Kozhikode: The RT-PCR test rates have been slashed at airports in the country. Following tax exemption given on the tests, the rates have been reduced from Rs 2,400 to Rs 1,580.
The reduced rates became effective from Tuesday. Initially, the revision will be applicable at government-run airports.
In Kerala, the Calicut International Airport has implemented the reduced rates while the decision is expected soon at Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur airports.
With Omicron variant of coronavirus being reported at various places in the country, the government had ramped up testing on passengers arriving from high-risk countries.
The government has proposed setting up kioks at airports for RT-PCR testing. At present, the samples of those who test positive on arrival are sent for genome sequencing to identify the variant.
The infected are then isolated as per the existing COVID protocol. Those found to be symptomatic are also isolated.
