Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) has issued fresh Guidelines for International Arrivals in light of the increasing trajectory of Covid-19 cases being noted in some countries across the world.
The guidelines need to be complied with by international travelers as well as at Points of entry (Airports, Seaports, and Land border) and will be valid from 24th December 2022 (10 AM IST) till further orders.
The revised guidelines foe International arrivals to India are as follows.
Planning for travel: All travelers should preferably be fully vaccinated as per the approved primary schedule of vaccination against Covid-19 in their Country.
During Travel: In-flight announcements about the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic including precautionary measures to be followed (preferable Use of Masks and Physical Distancing) will be made on flights/travel and at all points of entry.
Any passenger having symptoms during travel will be isolated as per standard protocol i.e. the said passenger should be wearing a Mask, Isolated and Segregated from other passengers in flight/travel, and shifted to an Isolation facility subsequently for follow-up treatment.
On arrival: De-boarding should be done ensuring Physical Distancing. Thermal screening will be done in respect of all the passengers by the Health officials present at the point of entry.
The passengers found to be symptomatic during screening will be immediately isolated and taken to a designated medical facility as per health protocol.
The following protocol post arrival shall also be followed:
- A sub-section (2% of the total passengers in the flight) will undergo Random post-arrival testing at the airport on arrival.
- Such travelers in each flight will be identified by the concerned airlines (preferably from different countries). They will submit the samples and shall be allowed to leave the airport thereafter.
- If such travelers’ samples are tested positive, their samples will be further sent for genomic testing at the INSACOG laboratory network.
- They will be treated/isolated as per the laid down standard protocol.
All travellers should self-monitor their health post arrival also shall report to their nearest health facility or call the National helpline number (1075)/ State Helpline Number in case they have any symptoms suggestive.
Children under 12 years of age are exempted from post-arrival random testing. However, if found symptomatic for Covid-19 on arrival or during the period of self-monitoring period, they shall undergo testing and be treated as per the laid down protocol.