Centre issues guidelines for international arrivals, makes 14-day quarantine mandatory

New Delhi: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Sunday issued guidelines for international travel arrivals to India, which include 14-day mandatory quarantine.

The 14-day quarantine includes seven days institutional quarantine at own cost, followed by seven days of home isolation.

“Before boarding, all travellers shall give an undertaking that they would undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days - 7 days paid institutional quarantine at their own cost, followed by 7 days isolation at home with self-monitoring of health,” the guidelines said.

The guidelines came a day after Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Puri stated that the government was trying to restart international flight operation by mid-June or July.

Earlier, the Civil Aviation Ministry allowed resuming domestic flights from May 25.

India had banned all international flights to control the spread of COVID-19, which was affected more than one lakh people across the country.

The Health Ministry said only for exceptional and compelling reasons such as cases of human distress, pregnancy, death in family, serious illness and parent(s) accompanied by children below 10 years, as assessed by the receiving states, home quarantine may be permitted for 14 days.

“Use of Aarogya Setu app shall be mandatory in such cases,” it said and added, “all passengers shall be advised to download Arogya Setu app on their mobile devices”. (UNI)