After New Mutant Coronavirus Spreads, Govt Issues Fresh Protocols For International Travellers. Check Details Here

The newly released Standard Operating Procedures will be implemented from 23.59 hours on February 22 till further orders, said civil aviation ministry

A health worker collects a swab sample from a passenger for the Covid-19 coronavirus test upon his arrival from London at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport on the outskirts of Amritsar on December 22, 2020. Narinder NANU / AFP

With new cases of mutant coronavirus spreading in several countries, the government on Wednesday issued fresh guidelines for those arrising in India. The newly released Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) will be implemented from 23.59 hours on February 22 till further orders, as per the official tweet by the civil aviation ministry. The new protocol has come into effect  in view of two new highly infectious strains including the South African and the Brazilian being detected in India. The new rules will be applicable to all international travellers who are coming/transiting through flights originating from the United Kingdom, Europe and Middle East. The civil aviation ministry came with the guidelines after reviewing the situation with the health and family welfare ministry as per the official release. Also Read: Bodies Of Two Minor Girls Found In UP's Unnao, Third Critical

What are the new guidelines?

In view of the mutant variant of SARS-CoV-2 spreading in many countries, international scheduled flights will remain suspended till February 28, as per PTI.  At present, overseas flights to and from India are operating in line with the air bubble agreements with various countries. It is important to note that all international passengers other then those taking flights originating from the UK, Europe and Middle East have to submit self-declaration form on Air Suvidha portal before their scheduled travel.  Such passengers will be required to declare their travel history of their 14 days.

It is important to upload a negative Covid-19 RT-PCR report but there has been exception in case of those traveling to India in emergency situation such as death in the family. However, to avail exemption, the travelling entity will have to apply to the online portal www.newdelhiairport.in at least 72 hours before boarding. Remember, to take the test within 72 hours prior to the journey and submit a declaration with respect to the authenticity of the report.

Only asymptomatic travellers will be allowed to board the flight after undertaking thermal screening, according to PTI report. Not only air passengers, but those international travellers coming through seaports/land ports will also have to follow the same guidelines, except that facility for online registration is not available for such passengers at present, as per the new guidelines.

Also, note those passengers from the three nations who have a connecting flights, airlines have to keep the passengers intimated about the need for transit time of a minimum 6-8 hours at the entry airport (in India) at the time of booking the tickets for connecting flights, as per the guidelines.

Those arriving from/transiting through flights originating in the United Kingdom, Europe or Middle East have to undergo self-paid confirmatory molecular tests on arrival at the Indian airports concerned (port of entry).

Also, international travellers on short stay (of less than 14 days) and who have tested negative and don’t exhibit any symptom shall follow the mentioned protocols above and will be permitted to leave India under proper intimation to their District/State health authorities, subject to them fulfilling the requirement of the airlines and destination country, as per the guidelines.