March 30, 2023 16:55 (IST)
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India | Covid rules Centre revises Covid guidelines for international arrivals, no home quarantines
New Delhi/IBNS: The government on Thursday revised its COVID-19 guidelines for international arrivals, removing the category of 'at risk' countries, which was introduced in the wake of the Omicron variant's spread, and also recommending self-monitoring of 14 days for any symptoms against the current seven days of home quarantine.
The new guidelines will come into effect from Feb 14, the Union Health Ministry said.
Announcing the new guidelines, the ministry stressed the "need to monitor the continuously changing" COVID-19 virus but also acknowledged that "economic activities need to be taken up in an unhindered manner".
As per the new guidelines, all foreign arrivals must fill out a self-declaration form online (available at the Air Suvidha web portal), which includes a travel history of the past 14 days.
They must also upload a negative RT-PCR test that was conducted within 72 hours of the travel date.
Alternatively, international travellers can also upload a certificate confirming they have received both vaccine doses.
This option, however, is only available for passengers arriving from 72 countries whose vaccination programmes are recognised by the Indian government as part of a reciprocal programme.
These countries include Canada, Hong Kong, the United States, the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Qatar, Australia, New Zealand, and some European nations.
This option, however, is only available for passengers arriving from 72 countries whose vaccination programmes are recognised by the Indian government as part of a reciprocal programme.
These countries include Canada, Hong Kong, the United States, the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Qatar, Australia, New Zealand, and some European nations.
"Airlines (will) allow boarding (of) only those passengers who have filled in all the information in the self-declaration form... and uploaded the negative RT-PCR test report or COVID-19 vaccination certificate..." the Health Ministry has said.
Only asymptomatic passengers will be allowed to board, and Covid-appropriate behaviour, including the use of face masks and practicing of social distancing have to be followed during the flight.
On arrival, in addition to thermal screening, passengers selected at random (up to two per cent of total passengers per flight) will be asked to undergo RT-PCR tests.
Passengers will be selected by the airline and must "preferably" be from different countries.
Passengers found to be symptomatic will be immediately quarantined and tested, with contact tracing carried out if they are found to be Covid-positive.
All other passengers must self-monitor for 14 days for any Covid symptoms, the Health Ministry said.
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