Government of India released new guidelines for international arrivals

Government of India released new guidelines for international arrivals

With some geographical variances, the worldwide trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to fall. The current international arrivals guidelines in India have been developed using a risk-based approach. In light of this, the existing guidelines have been amended. On the discovery of a novel form of SARS-CoV-2 (B.1.1.529;  Omicron). The World Health Organization has designated this as a Variant of Concern. All these guidelines are in effect from 1st December 2021.

Every traveler should 

• Fill out the self-declaration form on the Air Suvidha website. (https://www.newdelhiairport.in/airsuvidha/apho-registration) before the scheduled departure date and travel, including travel details of the previous 14 days.
  
• Submit a COVID-19 RT-PCR report that is negative*. This test should have been carried out approximately 72 hrs before undertaking the journey.
• Each passenger must also present a declaration confirming the legitimacy of the ticket. If it is discovered that they did not report, they will face criminal charges. They should also make an undertaking to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, through responsible airlines, on the portal, or elsewhere. That they will abide by the decision of the appropriate government authority to undertake the travel as needed, undergo home/institutional quarantine/self-health monitoring.
• To continue with the previous strategy, visitors from specific countries have to get identified for further investigation. These include the requirement for extra measures, as mentioned in paragraph (15)

Below is a listing of such stated Countries in a dynamic exercise based on the shifting circumstances of COVID-19 throughout the world. The list will be made available on the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's websites. Also, a link will be available on the Ministry of External Affairs website as well as the Air Suvidha Portal.

• Before Boarding, passengers originating or transiting through at-risk countries must be warned by the airlines that they will be subjected to post-arrival testing, quarantine if   negative, and strict isolation protocols if tested positive, (more as stated in para 15) 
• Airlines/agencies must present travelers with Dos and Don'ts along with their tickets.
•  Airlines will only allow passengers who have completed the Self Declaration form to the board. Post the negative RT-PCR test report to the Air Suvidha portal form. 
• At the time of boarding, only asymptomatic passengers will be permitted to board.
  

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Thermal screening 

All passengers will be asked to download the Aarogya Setu app on their mobile devices.

While Traveling

• At airports, on flights, and during transit, a notice about COVID-19 will be given that includes preventive steps that need to be taken. 
• During the flight, the crew must guarantee that behavior as per COVID protocols is observed at all times.  
• If any passenger exhibits COVID-19 symptoms throughout the trip, he or she will be isolated by the protocol.

On Arrivals

• De-boarding should be done with physical distance in mind. (1 Meter) 
• Thermal screening would be performed on all passengers by health officials available at the airport. The online self-declaration form must be presented at the airport Medical personnel 
• Passengers who are discovered to be symptomatic during screening must be immediately segregated and treated. As per health protocol, they must be taken to a medical facility. If they test positive, their contents will be terminated, detected, and maintained by following the procedure. 
• Travelers from selected risk countries [as described in para (3) above] will adhere to the protocol outlined below: 

• At the time of arrival, submit a sample for a post-arrival COVID-19 test* (self-paid). 
• Such passengers will be compelled to wait for the results of their tests at the arrival airport before departing or connecting. 
• If they test negative, they will be quarantined at home for 7 days. On the eighth day of the month, retest. 
• Arrival in India*, and if negative, continue to self-monitor their health for the next 7 days. However, if such travelers are found to be positive, their samples should be sent for genetic testing. 
  

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Contacts of such a positive case should be quarantined at an institution or home. Home quarantine is rigorously controlled by the appropriate State Government following the rules. protocol. Travelers from countries other than those at risk will be allowed to depart the airport and will be required to self-monitor their health for 14 days after their arrival. On arrival, a subset will be subjected to random post-arrival testing at the airport.

• The affected carriers must identify the 2% of such passengers on each journey. 
• Such passengers will be accompanied to the testing area by the relevant airlines/MoCA. arrival.
• The expense of testing such travelers must be met by the travelers nominated for testing themselves during random testing
• Laboratories will prioritize testing of samples from such travelers.
• If such travelers test positive, they will be handled under the usual protocol, and samples will be sent for genomic testing. 
• If travelers are subjected to home quarantine or self-health monitoring, they may acquire signs and symptoms. If individuals have symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 or test positive for COVID-19 on re-testing, they will immediately self-isolate and report to their nearest health institution or call the national helpline number. (1075)/ State helpline number (1075) Helpline Phone Number 
• International passengers arriving at seaports/land ports must follow the same procedure as described above, with the exception that online registration is not yet available for such passengers. 
• On arrival, such travelers must submit the self-declaration form to the competent Government of India authorities at seaports/land ports. Pre- and post-arrival testing is waived for children under the age of five.

However, if they are discovered to be symptomatic for COVID-19 upon arrival or during the home quarantine period, they will be tested and treated according to the protocols. Contacts for the suspicious case include co-passengers in the same row, three rows in front and three rows behind, as well as recognized Cabin Crew. In addition, all community contacts of those passengers who tested positive (during the home quarantine period) would be quarantined for 14 days and tested as per ICMR guidelines.

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