New guidelines for international arrivals; Check what you need to do for travelling to India

According to the new guidelines, all travellers are required to submit a self-declaration form online on its portal http://www.newdelhiairport.in, at least 72 hours before the scheduled travel or physically after arrival at the respective health counters.

The ministry has also asked for an undertaking, to be submitted online or to the Civil Aviation Ministry before the travel, saying that he/she (traveller) would abide by the decision of the appropriate government authority to undergo facility/home quarantine/self-monitoring of their health for 14 days, or as required.

However, the government has allowed 14 days home quarantine for children below aged 10 years, and for special cases. Those who want to avail the home quarantine facility need to apply through the portal http://www.newdelhiairport.in.

And, those seeking exemption from institutional quarantine need to upload a negative RT-PCR test report; however, the test should have been conducted within 72 hours before taking the journey.

For passengers arriving without a negative RT-PCR certificate and but want exemption from institutional quarantine can take RT-PCR testing at the airports where such facility is available. International passengers without RT-PCR negative certificate are required to take mandatory 7 days’ institutional quarantine and 7 days’ home quarantine

The ministry has asked all passengers to download Aarogya Setu app on their mobile devices before the travel. Only asymptomatic travellers will be allowed to board after the thermal screening, according to the new guidelines. The guidelines also asked to maintain physical distancing during boarding.

The guidelines further say, while on board, 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.

While deboarding, all passengers are required to thermal screening; those found to be symptomatic shall be immediately isolated and taken to a medical facility as per health protocol. Passengers with RT-PCR negative certificates will be exempted from quarantine and will be allowed to leave and undertake self-monitoring of their health for 14 days.

According to the new guidelines, the remaining passengers will be taken to institutional quarantine facilities, to be arranged by the respective state/UT governments to undergo mandatory 7 days’ institutional quarantine and 7 days’ home quarantine.