Maharashtra Issues Revised Guidelines For 'High-Risk' Countries After Prod By Centre: Check Latest Rules

The development comes a day after the Centre asked Maharashtra to align its travel order with the SOPs issued by the Union Health Ministry.

In Maharashtra, six passengers from 'high-risk' countries have tested Covid-19 positive so far (File)

New Delhi: The Maharashtra government amended its travel guidelines on Thursday and mandated seven-day institutional quarantine for passengers arriving in the state from 'high-risk' countries South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe amid panic over the Omicron Covid-19 variant.

"Passengers from these 'high-risk' countries shall have to undergo RT-PCR test immediately on arrival at respective international airport and shall undergo mandatory seven-day institutional quarantine with second RT-PCR test to be carried out on the seventh day," the Maharashtra government order said.

"If test comes positive, then such 'high-risk air passenger' shall be shifted to a hospital with Covid treatment facilities. In case result of RT-PCR test of seventh day comes negative, such 'high-risk air passenger' will have to undergo a further seven days of home quarantine," the order said.

READ | Govt Says No Need To Panic On Detection Of Omicron Cases In India

In the case of domestic air travel, passengers will either have to be fully vaccinated or carry RT-PCR test certificate showing negative result within 72 hours before boarding.

Earlier, the state government had made institutional quarantine mandatory for passengers arriving from all 'at risk' countries designated by the Centre. Such passengers were mandated to undergo RT-PCR test on the second, fourth and seventh day of arrival.

Eleven countries, including the UK, South Africa, Brazil, Botswana, China, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore and Israel, have been placed in the 'at-risk' category.

The development comes a day after the Centre asked Maharashtra to align its travel order with the SOPs issued by the Union Health Ministry.

In Maharashtra, six passengers from 'high-risk' countries have tested Covid-19 positive so far, PTI reported.