As there is a surge in COVID-19 cases in some parts of India, the government of Karnataka has mandated RT-PCR tests which should not be older than 72 hours. This is for passengers traveling from Kerala and Maharashtra. K Sudhakar, the health minister said that this new guideline is applicable to those arriving from flights, buses, trains, personal transport.

“Passengers arriving from Kerala, Maharashtra please make note of the latest travel guidelines issued by the Government of Karnataka (GOK),” the official Twitter handle of Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru tweeted.

A circular issued by the Government of Karnataka (GOK) dated February 20 said that passengers arriving from Maharashtra should have a negative RT-PCR report-not older than 72 hours, which will be verified by the airline staff at the time of boarding.

Karnataka Health Minister also cautioned people against negligence towards observing protocol and of stricter steps if the number of cases increase and said marshals would be deployed to monitor weddings as they were taking place without following any norms or guidelines.

“Civic sense and responsibility are also important. If we don’t understand it, in the days to come, if the cases increase, you (people) will be responsible for forcing the government to take strict measures. At a few places in Maharashtra, there is lockdown…you decide if such a situation has to come in Karnataka,” he said, PTI reports.

Karnataka is currently the third worst-hit state after Maharashtra and Kerala. It has 9,48,466 total number of infections and a death toll of12,299.

According to the Union Health Ministry, 86.3% of the new coronavirus cases are from five states – Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Punjab.

Meanwhile, India’s total tally of COVID-19 cases surged to 1,10,30,176 with 13,742 new infections, while the recoveries have surged to 1,07,26,702, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.

The death count increased to 1,56,567 with 104 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed. 

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,07,26,702 which translates to a national COVID-19 recovery rate of 97.25 percent and the case fatality rate stands at 1.42 percent.

There are 1,46,907 active cases of coronavirus infections in the country which comprises 1.33 percent of the total caseload, the data stated. 

India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.It went past  60 lakh on September 28,  70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29,  90 lakh on November 20, and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.