Flights Will Start From May 28: West Bengal Passengers, Take Note Of These Air Travel Guidelines

The West Bengal government issues guidelines for domestic air travel on Tuesday. Passengers will have to submit a self-declaration form on arrival and monitor their health for 14 days after flying.

(File Photo/ Getty)

New Delhi: West Bengal government has issued guidelines for domestic air travel on Tuesday. The state was not ready to resume services on May 25 because of cyclone Amphan and had announced that it will start from May 28. According to the new regulations every passenger must submit a self-declaration form on arrival and monitor their health for 14 days after flying. These guidelines are to ensure safe travels, and to prevent Coronavirus from spreading. The guidelines also specify other precautions that travellers will have to ensure and includes the following:

• All passengers have to wear face masks that cover their nose and mouth properly. They must follow social distancing norms, proper hand hygiene i.e. carrying hand sanitizer with themselves and practice respiratory etiquettes i.e. sneeze or cough into their elbow or a tissue and dispose of it properly.
• Only asymptomatic passengers will be allowed to board the flight and to ensure this they will have to undergo health screening at the point of departure.
• On arrival as well, passengers will undergo health screening, if they are found to be asymptomatic they will be let go but will have to monitor their health themselves by self-isolating for 14 if they find any symptoms in the coming days they are to report to the local medical officer or call at the state call center.
• Symptomatic passengers will be taken to a COVID center for sample collection and health condition assessment.
• Moderate to severe condition patients will be admitted to COVID facilities whereas those with mild symptoms will be asked to go home/institutional quarantine.
• The self-declaration form has to be submitted at the time of arrival to the state health officials.
• Common spots of the airport will be regularly disinfected/sanitized. Soaps and sanitizers will be available at different points of the airport.
• People will be regularly reminded to follow social distancing norms and respiratory etiquettes at the airport.

Similar guidelines have been issued by other states. In Tamil Nadu, all incoming passengers are to obtain a mandatory TN e-pass by registering on https://tnepass.tnega.org before travel. In Uttar Pradesh as well, passengers have to register on  https://reg.upcovid.in alternatively they can call on the toll-free number 1800-180-5145. Goa’s guidelines request non-resident Goans to avoid coming to the state as no hotels or homestays are functioning during this time.