All fliers arriving in India should preferably be fully vaccinated as per the approved primary schedule of vaccination against Covid-19 in their country, the health ministry said in fresh guidelines amid renewed fears over the virus. An alarming surge in Covid-19 cases in China has triggered fresh concerns over the virus.
Any passenger with symptoms of Covid-19 during travel must be isolated as per standard protocol, according to the new rules. The said passenger should wear a mask, be isolated and segregated from other passengers in flight and shifted to an isolation facility subsequently for follow-up treatment, it added.
Upon arrival, de-boarding should be done ensuring proper physical distancing, the health ministry said.
Everyone should be subjected to thermal screening by health officials present at the point of entry, it said, adding that passengers found to be symptomatic during screening must be immediately isolated and taken to a designated medical facility as per health protocol.
Two per cent of the total passengers in the flight must undergo random post-arrival testing at airports and such travellers in each flight will be identified by the airlines concerned, preferably from different countries, it said. They will be allowed to leave the airport after submitting their samples.
If samples return positive for the virus, they will be further sent for genomic testing at the INSACOG laboratory network. The affected fliers will be treated as per standard protocol.
All travellers should self-monitor their health on arrival and report to their nearest health facility or call the national or state helpline numbers in case they show any symptoms.
Children under 12 are exempted from post-arrival random testing. However, if found symptomatic with Covid-19 on arrival or during the self-monitoring period, they will be tested and treated as per protocol.
