New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry has issued a revised set of guidelines for the international air passengers coming to India. The new guidelines which will come into place from 8 August have made seven-day paid institutional quarantine mandatory for all passengers.
It said: “They (passengers) should give an undertaking on the portal (www.newdelhiairport.in) that they would undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days, i.e., seven days paid institutional quarantine at their own cost, followed by seven days isolation at home with self-monitoring of health.”
The travellers should submit the self-declaration form on the portal at least 72 hours before the scheduled travel.
Only for compelling reasons/ cases of human distress such as pregnancy, death in family, serious illness and parent(s) with children of the age of 10 years or below, home quarantine may be permitted for 14 days, the Ministry said.
However, those who need such exemption must apply to the online portal 72 hours before boarding.
The Ministry said travellers can also seek exemption from institutional quarantine by submitting a negative RT-PCR test report on arrival. This test should have been conducted within 96 hours prior to undertaking the journey. Travellers should upload the test report on the portal.
“Each passenger shall also submit a declaration with respect to authenticity of the report and will be liable for criminal prosecution, if found otherwise. The test report could also be produced upon arrival at the point of entry airport in India”.
Only asymptomatic passengers will be allowed to board the flight or ship after thermal screening. Passengers arriving through land borders will also have to undergo the same protocol, and only those who are asymptomatic will be enabled to cross the border into India.