What are the new International Arrival Guidelines with effect from 1 December | COVID Omicron Scare
Check Algorithm on Guidelines. International passengers to submit 14 day travel history on Air Suvidha
7 day Home Quarantine for passengers arriving from "At Risk" Countries (UK, South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Hong Kong and Israel alongwith countries in Europe)
The Union Health Ministry issued a new travel advisory for internatinoal passengers arriving in India. The new guidelines will be effective from 1 December, in the light of the "Omicron" COVID variant, which has been classified as a Variant of Concern (VoC) by WHO. See Guidelines Here
The guidelines say that while all passengers will need to submit a 14 day travel history on the Air Suvidha Portal along with a COVID Negative report no earlier than 72 hours of travel, those arriving from "At Risk" countries will also need to undertake a 7 day Home Quarantine even after testing negative for COVID on arrival. A self declarion with respect to the COVID test report will also have to be submitted on the Air Suvidha portal and manipulated reports will make the passenger liable to criminal prosecution.
Algorithm of Guidelines for International Arrivals
Elaborating on the procedure for arrival from any country in Eurpoe along with 12 classified "At Risk" countries, the orders say that the passengers will have to take a COVID test on arrival and if found negative, will have to undertake a 7 day home quarantine. On the 8th day, there will be another COVID test conducted, following which, if found negative, the passgners will ahve to self monitor for another 7 days. The classified "At Risk" countries include Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, China, Hong Kong, Israel, Mauritius, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, United Kingdom and Zimbabwe along with all countries in Europe. Travellers from other countries will be allowed to leave the airport and self-monitor their health for 14 days.