The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Wednesday released an updated standard operating procedure (SOP) for international passengers arriving in India after cases of the South Africa and Brazil variants of the Covid-18 virus were detected.
The Ministry in its updated SOP said the guidelines will supersede the one issued since August 2, 2020 and will come into effect from 23.59 hours on February 22.
There are fresh guidelines for all international travellers coming/transiting through flights originating from the UK, Europe and West Asia.
The government has suspended international scheduled flights till February 28.
"Attention Passengers! To reduce the risk of importation of mutant strains of SARS-CoV-2, SOP for International Passengers arriving in India have been updated in supersession of all guidelines on the subject since 2 Aug20. The new SOP will be in effect on 23:59 hrs on 22nd Feb,21," the Ministry posted on its official Twitter handle.
The updated SOP consists of parts A and B; the former is for all international travellers arriving in India except those arriving in flights originating in the United Kingdom, Europe and Middle East. Part B, meanwhile, is for all international travellers coming/transiting through flights originating from these places.
Part A of the SOP is divided into four sections-planning for travel, before boarding, during travel and on arrival. When planning for travel to India, passengers are required to submit a self-declaration form and provide a negative Covid-19 RT-PCR test report. They are also required to submit an undertaking that they would follow the decision of an appropriate authority to undergo home quarantine for 14 days. For those arriving in the country in the event of a death in their family, no negative RT-PCR report is required.
“All travellers should (i) submit a self-declaration form on the online Air Suvidha portal (www.newdelhiairport.in) 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,” it said. They should also give an undertaking on the portal or otherwise to the 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.
“Arrival in India without a negative report shall be allowed only for those traveling to India in the exigency of death in the family. 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,” it said.