Health Ministry issues revised guidelines for International Arrivals; removes 7 days home quarantine rule
Amidst the decline in COVID-19 cases across the country, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Thursday, January 10 issued revised guidelines for international travel.
Giving major relaxation to international travellers, under the revised rules, mandatory seven days home quarantine rule along with undertaking RT-PCR test on 8th day & uploading the same on Air Suvidha portal stand withdrawn.
According to the revised guidelines, travellers need to self-monitor their health for the next 14 days upon the arrival. The guidelines will come into effect from 14th February.
“If travellers under self-health monitoring, develop signs and symptoms suggestive of COVID19, they will immediately self-isolate and report to their nearest health facility or call National helpline number (1075)/ State Helpline Number,” the guideline stated.
Elaborating more about the updated rules, taking to the microblogging site, Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya said, “Besides uploading negative RT-PCR report (taken 72 hrs prior to journey), option to upload a certificate of completing full primary vaccination schedule of COVID-19 vaccination provided from countries on a reciprocal basis.”
On the basis of reciprocity, under the revised guidelines, travellers from 82 countries (including Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Iran among others) that provide quarantine-free entry to Indians will be considered for allowing entry based on vaccination certificate & shall upload their fully vaccinate certificate on the Air Suvidha portal. On the other hand, a total of 27 countries have an agreement with India on mutual recognition of vaccination certificates of nationally recognised or WHO recognised vaccines.
According to the new travel guidelines, random sampling of 2% of International Travellers from all countries will be done upon the arrival. Travellers can give samples & are allowed to leave the airport.
“If such travellers are tested positive, their samples should be further sent for genomic testing at INSACOG laboratory network.”
Also, under the revised rules, the demarcation of countries ‘at-risk’ & other countries was removed. Accordingly need for giving samples on a port of arrival & waiting till the result is obtained from countries ‘at-risk’ is dispensed with.
