Civil Aviation Ministry issues fresh guidelines for international passengers due to new covid strain

New Delhi:With the detection of new variants of the Covid-19 virus in the country, the Civil Aviation Ministry on Thursday issued a set of Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) for international passengers arriving in India.

The fresh guidelines were issued two days after India confirmed the presence of four persons with the faster-spreading South African variant of Covid-19 and one person with the Brazilian strain, who have already been traced and quarantined.

The SoP will come into effect from the midnight of February 22 wherein all international travellers except travellers coming through flights originating from the United Kingdom, Europe and the Middle East, will be required to submit a self-declaration form on the online Air Suvidha portal before the scheduled travel and upload a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR report which must be done within 72 hrs prior to boarding the aircraft.

On arrival of the passengers in India from the UK, Brazil and South Africa, who have to take a connecting flight, will have to give their sample at a designated area at the airport and exit only after testing negative, which may take between six-eight hours, the new SoP said.

“Each passenger will also submit a declaration with respect to authenticity of the report and they will also be submitting the undertaking through concerned airlines before the commencement of their journey that they will abide by the decision of the appropriate government authority regarding home quarantine or self-monitoring of their health for 14 days”, it further said.

The point wise ‘Do’s and Don'ts’ will be provided to the passengers along with tickets to the travellers by the airlines and only asymptomatic travellers will be allowed to board after thermal screening, the new rules said, adding that during travel, suitable announcements about COVID-19 including precautionary measures will be made at airports and in flights, during transit and deboarding with ensuring physical distancing.

All international travellers coming or transiting through flights originating from the United Kingdom, Europe and Middle East, should submit ‘Self-Declaration Form’ for COVID before the scheduled travel and will be required to declare their travel history of past 14 days, the new air travel norms said.(UNI)