Earlier this month, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued guidelines linked with International travelers to and from India.
Amid this COVID-19, many countries, including India, have eased their set travel restrictions. Although such travel will be at the risk of traveler himself, India and other foreign countries have opened up their gates, offering flights to the USA, Canada, Germany, France, UK, and UAE.
Things to be Considered Before Planning Travel to India
Passengers need to submit a self-declaration through an online portal at least 72 hours before the scheduled travel on www.newdelhiairport.in.
In addition to this, the passengers have to agree to the undertaking that they will undergo a mandatory 14 days quarantine. This will include 7-day paid institutional quarantine and another seven days for home isolation and self-monitoring.
However, in certain exempted circumstances, that is the death of a family member, pregnancy, serious illness of parents, and children below ten years of age, home quarantine for days is permitted.
For availing of any exemption, the same shall be applied on the online portal 72 hours before the actual travel.
Moreover, if one can successfully produce a negative RTPCR test report on arrival, they can get the exemption from institutional quarantine. The only condition with the test is, it should be conducted at least 96 hours before the start of the journey.
In severe cases, if the reports are found to be fake, the passenger is liable for criminal prosecution.
Do’s and Don’ts for International Travelers
Traveling among COVID-19 is not considered to be safe. However, if you have still booked your flights to India from the USA, here is what precautions one must take to have safe travel:
All the international travelers to India must have the Arogya Setu app installed in their handsets.
The agencies linked with the travel booking shall issue do’s and don’ts for the travelers along with the issuing of the tickets.
The passengers who are asymptomatic will be the only ones to board the flight after undergoing thermal screening.
The airports shall make sure that proper environmental sanitization and disinfection is done.
In addition to all this, social distancing shall be carefully followed at the airports to ensure travelers’ proper safety.
Instructions During the Travel
If the international travelers to India have not submitted the self-declaration at the time of flight booking, the same shall be filled in duplication. The copy is to be submitted to the Health and Immigration officials at the airport.
In addition to this, such travelers can submit the online declaration at the arriving airport if any such facility is available.
Airports and flights shall make suitable announcements regarding the COVID-19 precautionary measures to be followed during the travel.
The airline staff shall be responsible for monitoring the general precautions taken by the passengers during their flights to India from the USA. These include hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, the wearing of masks, etc.
On Arrival Precautionary Measures
Social distancing should be kept in mind at the time of deboarding.
As the passengers get down the flight, thermal screening is made mandatory for all. Also, the travelers have to produce the online filled self-declaration at the time of arrival.
As per the health protocol, the symptomatic passengers will be immediately sent for isolation.
In case the passengers have been exempted from institutional quarantine will have to produce the document for 14 days home quarantine.
The respective state and UT governments shall make the arrangements for the institutional quarantine of the passengers.
After completing the 7-day quarantine period, such passengers will be tested as per the ICMR protocol. In case found positive, will be medically assessed to the earliest.
Patients with mild to severe symptoms will be admitted to dedicated COVID health centers for further treatment.
