Guidelines for International Passengers Arriving in India

The Ministry of Health & Welfare has issued fresh guidelines for international passengers arriving in India. These guidelines will come into effect from 8th August 2020.

Here are the important guidelines to be followed before, during and after arrival.

Before Arrival

1. Submit self-declaration form on www.newdelhiairport.in 72 hours before travel.
2. Give a undertaking agreeing to undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days. 7 days paid institutional quarantine at own cost. 7 days isolation at home with self-monitoring for days may be permitted only for compelling cases.
3. To seek an exemption apply online at least 72 house before boarding.
4. Exemption from institutional quarantine may be sought by submitting a negative RT PCR test report on arrival. Test should have been conducted within 96 hours prior to the journey. The test result should be uploaded online or could also be produced upon arrival at entry point.

During Travel

1. Travelers who hadn’t filled in self-declaration form on the portal shall fill the same in duplicate in the flight/ship and a copy of the same will be given to Health and Immigration officials present at the directions of the concerned authorities, if such facility is available.
2. Suitable announcements about Covid – 19 including precautionary measures to be followed shall ship and during transit.
3. While on board the flight/ship required precautions such as wearing of masks, environmental hygiene, respiratory hygiene, etc are to be observed by the airline/ship staff/crew and all passengers.

On Arrival

1. Deboarding should be done ensuring social distancing.
2. Self declaration form filled online to be shown to the airport health staff.
3. Passengers found symptomatic during screening to be immediately isolated and taken to medical facility.
4. Post thermal screening the passengers exempted from Institutional quarantine to produce their application status to their respective state counters.
5. The remaining passengers shall be taken to suitable institutional quarantine facilities for a minimum period of 7 days.

Based on clinical assessments and test as per ICMR protocol passengers with :

1. – Asymptomatic/ Pre-symptomatic/ very mild cases will be allowed home isolation or isolated in the Covid Care Center as appropriate.
2. Those with mild/ moderate/ severe symptoms will be admitted to dedicated Covid health facilities. If found negative they shall be advised to further isolate themselves at home and self-monitor their health for 7 days.
3. -In case any symptoms develop they shall inform the district surveillance officer or the state/national call center (1075).
4. States can develop their own protocol with regards to quarantine & isolation as per their assessment post arrival of passengers in the state concerned.

These precautions come as a part of the safety measures during the ongoing Unlock -3 in India.

(Feature image source: Money Crashers)