In view of the significant decline in number of COVID-19 cases across the country, the Andaman and Nicobar administration decided that fully vaccinated people are exempted from the requirement of carrying RT-PCR negative test report to enter the union territory.

Such fully vaccinated individuals shall produce the final vaccination certificate at the origin airport/seaport in the mainland and Port Blair airport/ seaport, an order issued by the principal secretary, health, Dr V Candavelou said. The order further said that all asymptomatic children below 5 years of age are exempted from carrying RT-PCR negative test report and further RT-PCR testing at Port Blair Airport.

All other passengers – unvaccinated and partially vaccinated – shall have to produce RT-PCR negative test report to travel to Port Blair from the mainland as in the practice now. The RT-PCR test should have been taken within 48-hours prior to the commencement of the journey, it said.

If a passenger on arrival is tested positive then, the prescribed quarantine protocol is to be followed, the order added. Andaman and Nicobar Islands now has eight active COVID-19 cases, while 9,992 people have recovered from the disease so far.