New guidelines issued for travellers to India from August 8

Our Correspondent

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued new guidelines for international arrivals with effect from August 8, 2020 which will supercede guidelines issued on May 24, 2020.

 

Before planning to travel, all travellers should submit a self-declaration form on the online portal (www.newdelhiairport.in) at least 72 hours before the scheduled travel. They should also give an undertaking on the portal that they would undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days i.e. 7 days paid institutional quarantine at their own cost, followed by seven days isolation at home with self-monitoring of health.

 

“Only for compelling reasons/cases of human distress such as pregnancy, death in family, serious illness and parent(s) with children aged 10 years and below, home quarantine may be permitted for 14 days”, it notes.

 

Those seeking exemption should apply to the Delhi airport portal at least 72 hours before boarding, but the government decision communicated on the online portal will be final, it clarifies.

 

Travellers may seek exemption from institutional quarantine by submitting on the portal a negative RT-PCR test – conducted within 96 hrs prior to undertaking the journey – report on arrival at entry airport in India. The passenger should also submit a declaration with respect to authenticity of the report and will be liable for criminal prosecution, if found otherwise.

 

Before boarding, all passengers are advised to download Arogya Setu app on their mobile devices. Only asymptomatic travelers will be allowed to board after thermal screening.

 

Travellers who had not filled in the self-declaration form on the portal should fill the same in duplicate in the flight/ship and a copy of the same is to be given to Health and Immigration officials at the airport/ seaport/ Iandport.

 

On arrival at an airport, those passengers found to be symptomatic during thermal screening will be immediately isolated and taken to a medical facility.

 

Passengers exempted from institutional quarantine, based on the decision indicated on the online portal in advance, can “show the same to the respective State Counters on their cell phones/other mode before being allowed home quarantine for 14 days”. The remaining passengers will be taken to suitable institutional quarantine facilities, arranged by the respective State/ UT governments. They will be tested as per ICMR protocol and those found negative can proceed to home isolation.

In case symptoms develop, they should inform the district surveillance officer or the state/national call center on 1075.

The Ministry has allowed States to develop their own protocol with regards to quarantine and isolation as per their assessment post arrival of passengers.