New Delhi, Feb 18: The civil aviation ministry has issued new guidelines for international arrivals in the context of the spread of mutant variant of SARS-CoV-2 in many countries.
There are fresh guidelines for all international travellers coming/transiting through flights originating from the United Kingdom, Europe and the Middle East & the new Standard Operating Procedures will come into effect from 23.59 pm on February 22 till further orders.
The guidelines have been divided into three sections based on the origin of travel.
The government has suspended international scheduled flights till February 28. Overseas flights to and from India are currently operated as per air bubble agreements with various countries.
As per the new guidelines, the entry airports for flight services would be decided by the Ministry of Civil Aviation based on the bilateral and Vande Bharat Mission flights.
New guideline, details with CTN reads as:-
Part A: For all international travellers except travellers coming through flights originating from the United Kingdom, Europe and Middle East. A.1. Planning for Travel: i. All travellers should (i) submit self-declaration form on the online Air Suvidha portal (www.newdelhiairorpUn) before the scheduled travel (ii) upload a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR report. This test should have been conducted within 72 hrs prior to undertaking the journey.
Each passenger shall also submit a declaration with respect to the authenticity of the report and will be liable for criminal prosecution if found otherwise.
ii. They should also give an undertaking on the portal or otherwise to Ministry of Civil Aviation, Govt. of India, through concerned airlines before they are allowed to undertake the journey that they would abide by the decision of the appropriate government authority to undergo home quarantine/ self-monitoring of their health for 14 days, or as warranted.
iii. Arrival in India without negative report shall be allowed only for those travelling to India in the exigency of death in the family. iv. If they wish to seek such exemption under para (iii) above, they shall apply to the online portal (www.newdelhiairport.in) at least 72 hours before boarding. The decision taken by the government as communicated on the online portal will be final.
A.2. Before Boarding:-
v. Do's and Don'ts shall be provided along with a ticket to the travellers by the airlines/agencies concerned. vi. Airlines to allow boarding only those passengers who have filled in the Self Declaration Form on the Air Suvidha portal and uploaded the negative RT-PCR test report.
vii. At the time of boarding the flight, only asymptomatic travellers will be allowed to board after the thermal screening. viii. All passengers shall be advised to download the Arogya Setu app on their mobile devices.
ix. Suitable precautionary measures such as environmental sanitation and disinfection shall be ensured at the airports. x. During boarding all possible measures to ensure physical distancing are to be ensured.
A.3. During Travel xi. Suitable announcement about COVID-19 including precautionary measures to be followed shall be made at airports and in flights and during transit.
xii. While onboard the flight, required precautions such as wearing of masks, environmental hygiene, respiratory hygiene, hand hygiene etc. are to be observed by airline staff, crew and all passengers.
A.4. On arrival:-
xiii. should be done ensuring physical distancing. xiv. Thermal screening would be carried out in respect of all the passengers by the health officials present at the airport. The self-declaration form filled online shall be shown to the airport health staff. xv. The passengers found to be symptomatic during screening shall be immediately isolated and taken to medical facility as per health protocol.
xvi. The passengers who have been exempted for pre-arrival RT-PCR testing [para (iii) and (iv) of A.1 above (as approved and indicated on the online portal in advance) will show the same to the respective State counters. They will be prioritized for sample collection in the designated area, samples collected and permitted to exit the airport. They shall monitor their health for 14 days (subject to negative test report of the sample taken at the Airport that would be conveyed to such travellers by the concerned State authorities/airport operators).
xvii. All other passengers who have uploaded RT-PCR negative certificates on Air Suvidha portal shall be allowed to leave the airport/ take transit flights and will be required to undertake self-monitoring of their health for 14 days.
xviii. All such passengers will also be provided with the list of the National and State level surveillance officers and the respective call centre numbers, so as to inform State/National Call Centres in case they develop symptoms at any time during the quarantine or self-monitoring of their health. International travellers arriving at seaports/land ports
xix. International travellers arriving through seaports/land ports will also have to undergo the same protocol as above, except that facility for online registration is not available for such passengers currently.
xx. Such travellers shall submit the self-declaration form to the concerned authorities of Government of India at seaports/land ports on arrival. Part B: For all international travellers coming/transiting through flights originating from the United Kingdom, Europe and the Middle East All the clauses as above (part A) shall be applicable to such travellers coming/transiting from flights originating in United Kingdom, Europe and the Middle East except for clauses on testing, quarantine and isolation as specified below: -
All international travellers coming/transiting from flights originating from United Kingdom, Europe and the Middle East as described in the scope above should submit Self-Declaration Form for COVID on the online Air Suvidha, the portal (www.newdelhiairport.in) before the scheduled travel and will be required to declare their travel history (of past 14 days).
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