Ministry of Health issues revised guidelines for international arrivals; check details

Ministry of Health on Thursday issued revised guidelines for international arrivals, to come in effect from 14th February. The demarcation of countries ‘at-risk’ & other countries have been removed. The guidelines recommends 14 days self-monitoring post-arrival as against 7 days home quarantine as was mandated earlier.

Besides uploading negative RT-PCR report (taken 72 hrs prior to journey), option to upload certificate of completing full primary vaccination schedule of COVID-19 vaccination provided from countries on a reciprocal basis, stated the guidelines. 

A.1. Planning for Travel

i. All travellers should
a. Submit complete and factual information in self-declaration form on the online Air Suvidha portal (https://www.newdelhiairport.in/airsuvidha/apho-registration) before the scheduled travel, including last 14 days travel details.
b. Upload a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR report* (The test should have been conducted within 72 hrs prior to undertaking the journey) or Certificate of completing full primary vaccination schedule of COVID-19 vaccination.
c. Each passenger shall also submit a declaration with respect to authenticity of the report and will be liable for criminal prosecution, if found otherwise.

ii. They should also give an undertaking on the portal or otherwise to Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, through concerned airlines before they are allowed to undertake the
journey that they would abide by the decision of the appropriate government authority any post arrival requirement to undergo home/institutional quarantine/ self-health monitoring,
as warranted.

A.2. Before Boarding

iii. Do’s and Don'ts shall be provided along with ticket to the travellers by the airlines/agencies concerned.
iv. Airlines to allow boarding by only those passengers who have filled in all the information in the Self Declaration Form on the Air Suvidha portal and uploaded the negative RT-PCR test
report or Covid -19 vaccination certificate of having completed the primary vaccination
schedule.
v. At the time of boarding the flight, only asymptomatic travellers will be allowed to board after thermal screening.
vi. All passengers shall be advised to download Aarogya Setu app on their mobile devices.

A.3. During Travel
vii. In-flight announcement about COVID-19 including precautionary measures to be followed shall be made at airports and in flights and during transit.
viii. During in-flight crew shall ensure that COVID appropriate behaviour is followed at all times.
ix. If any passenger reports symptoms of COVID-19 during flight, he/she shall be isolated as per protocol.
x. Proper in-flight announcements should be made by the airlines regarding the testing requirements and people who need to undergo such testing to avoid any congestion at the arrival airports.
A.4. On arrival
xi. De-boarding should be done ensuring physical distancing.
xii. Thermal screening would be carried out in respect of all the passengers by the health officials present at the airport. The self-declaration form filled online shall be shown to the airport health staff.
xiii. The passengers found to be symptomatic during screening shall be immediately isolated and taken to medical facility as per health protocol. If tested positive, their contacts shall be
identified and managed as per laid down protocol.
xiv. The following protocol post arrival shall also be followed
a. A sub-section (2% of the total passengers in the flight) shall undergo random postarrival testing at the airport on arrival.
b. Such travellers in each flight shall be identified by the concerned airlines (preferably from different countries). They will submit the samples and shall be allowed to leave
the airport.
c. If such travellers are tested positive, their samples should be further sent for genomic testing at INSACOG laboratory network.
d. They shall be treated/isolated as per laid down standard protocol.
xv. All travellers will self-monitor their health for next 14 days of arrival.
xvi. If travellers under self-health monitoring, develop signs and symptoms suggestive of COVID19, they will immediately self-isolate and report to their nearest health facility or call National helpline number (1075)/ State Helpline Number. International travellers arriving at seaports/land ports
xvii. International travellers arriving through seaports/land ports will also have to undergo the same protocol as above, except that facility for online registration is not available for such passengers currently.
xviii. Such travellers shall submit the self-declaration form to the concerned authorities of
Government of India at seaports/land ports on arrival.