Health Ministry Issues Guidelines For International Arrivals; Check List Of Dos and Don'ts

Health Ministry on Sunday issued guidelines for international arrivals, saying that before boarding, all travellers will have to sign an undertaking that they would undergo 14 day-quarantine period after landing in India.

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A day after Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri unveiled action plan of possibly resuming International flights before August, the Health Ministry on Sunday issued guidelines for international arrivals, saying that before boarding, all travellers will have to sign an undertaking that they would undergo 14 day-quarantine period after landing in India. "Before boarding, all travellers shall give an undertaking that they would undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days - 7 days paid institutional quarantine at their own cost, followed by 7 days isolation at home with self-monitoring of health," the guidelines said. The ministry further stated that certain exceptional cases such human distress, pregnancy, death in family, serious illness and parent(s) accompanied by children below 10 years might be permitted for home quarantine, that too only after being assessed by the receiving state. Guidelines also mentioned that only the asymptomatic people will be allowed to board or come through land borders while those found with COVID symptoms during screening shall be immediately isolated and taken to medical facility as per health protocol. Here's a list of guidelines for International Arrivals: 

• Before boarding, all travellers shall give an undertaking that they would undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days - 7 days paid institutional quarantine at their own cost, followed by 7 days isolation at home with self-monitoring of health.
• Only for exceptional and compelling reasons such as cases of human distress, pregnancy, death in family, serious illness and parent(s) accompanied by children below 10 years, as assessed by the receiving states, home quarantine may be permitted for 14 days. Use of Aarogya Setu app shall be mandatory in such cases.
• Dos and Don'ts shall be provided along with ticket to the travelers by the agencies concerned.
• All passengers shall be advised to download Arogya Setu app on their mobile devices.
• At the time of boarding the flight/ ship, only asymptomatic travelers will be allowed to board after thermal screening.
• Passengers arriving through the land borders will also have to undergo the same protocol as above, and only those who are asymptomatic will be enabled to cross the border into India.
• Self-declaration form in duplicate shall be filled by the person in the flight/ship and a copy of the same will be given to Health and Immigration officials present at the airport/ seaport/ Iandport. The form may also be made available on Aarogya Setu app.
• Suitable precautionary measures such as environmental sanitation and disinfection shall be ensured at the airports as well as within the flights.
• During boarding and at the airports, all possible measures to ensure social distancing to be ensured.
• Suitable announcement about COVID-19 including precautionary measures to be followed shall be made at airports/port and in flights/ships and during transit.
• While on board the flight/ ship, required precautions such as wearing of masks, environmental hygiene, respiratory hygiene, hand hygiene etc. are to be observed by airline/ ship staff, crew and all passengers.
• On arrival, thermal screening would be carried out in respect of all the passengers by the Health officials present at the airport/ seaport/ Iandport.
• The passengers found to be symptomatic during screening shall be immediately isolated and taken to medical facility as per health protocol.
• The remaining passengers shall be taken to suitable institutional quarantine facilities, to be arranged by the respective State/ UT Governments.
• These passengers shall be kept under institutional quarantine for a minimum period of 7 days.
• In case, any symptoms develop they shall inform the district surveillance officer or the state/national call center (1075).