Omicron Scare: Situation Being Closely Monitored, Says Scindia On International Flights Resumption

The home ministry had stated that Centre will review the decision on December 15 resumption of scheduled commercial international passenger service.

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New Delhi: In view of COVID-19’s new variant Omicron, Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Monday informed that the situation is being closely monitored and reviewed in consultation with other ministries regarding “any further decision” on resuming scheduled international passenger services.

The government had recently decided to restart scheduled commercial international passenger services to and from India from December 15 as the services remain suspended since March 23 last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on Monday, Jyotiraditya Scindia stated that the decision to resume flights from December 15 was taken after recognising the increased vaccination coverage across the globe, changing nature of the pandemic, and considering the health protocols, which have been put in place for international arrivals.

“However, in view of the evolving global scenario with the emergence of new variants of concern, the situation is being closely monitored and reviewed in consultation with other Ministries, with regard to taking any further decision on the issue,” the Civil Aviation Minister wrote, as quoted by news agency PTI.

This response comes after the home ministry on Sunday stated that the Union government will review the decision on December 15 resumption of scheduled commercial international passenger service.

“Decision on effective date of resumption of scheduled commercial international passengers service, to be reviewed, as per evolving global scenario. Closer watch on emerging pandemic situation within the country will be maintained,” the MHA statement read.

Currently, international passenger flights are being operated in a restricted manner under bilateral air bubble arrangements with various countries.

As of November 24, India had formalised air bubble arrangements with 31 countries.

These arrangements provide air travel bubble arrangements to provide direct/indirect connectivity to more than 100 countries, Minister of State for Civil Aviation V K Singh stated in a separate written reply to the Upper House, reported PTI.

Replying to a poser on whether airfares for returning students and family members from Europe and North America are doubling and even quadrupling this winter, the Minister of State informed that as per details of fare submitted by airlines, the average fares for travel by economy class under the air bubble arrangements are comparable to the average fares during the Winter 2019 schedule. 

Revised Guidelines For International Arrivals

Union Ministry of Health issued revised ‘Guidelines for International arrivals’ on Sunday.

The updated guidelines require all travelers, irrespective of COVID-19 vaccination status, coming to India from countries identified as ‘countries at risk’ to mandatorily undergo post-arrival COVID-19 testing at airport on arrival in addition to pre-departure COVID-19 testing undertaken 72 hours before the departure. 

For passengers found positive in these tests, they will be isolated and treated as per protocol while their samples are sent for Whole Genome Sequencing. The passengers found negative can depart the airport but have to undergo home isolation for seven days, followed by repeat testing on eighth day of arrival in India, followed by seven days of self-monitoring.

The guidelines also mandate that five per cent of the travelers coming from countries that are not in the ‘at risk category’ be tested on a random basis at the airports for COVID-19.

States have been advised for rigorous surveillance of international passengers, enhanced testing, monitoring the hotspots of COVID -19, ensuring augmentation of health infrastructure, including undertaking samples for whole genome sequencing, the health ministry stated.

(With Agency Inputs)