New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Sunday issued new guidelines for foreign travelers visiting India, with effect from December 1, in response to growing concerns about the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Passengers will have to fill a self-declaration form on the online Air Suvidha portal and enter travel data for the last 14 days before booking a flight.
As per the guidelines, the findings of the negative RT-PCR test will have to be uploaded on the Air Suvidha portal before travelling. The test should have been completed within 72 hours of leaving for the journey.
As per the health ministry guidelines, passengers from ‘at-risk countries’ should take a COVID-19 test after arrival and wait for the results at the airport.
If they test negative, they will be placed in a seven-day home quarantine. They must repeat the test after eight days, and if the results are negative, they should continue self-monitoring for the next seven days.
On arrival at the airport, a random subset of passengers (5 per cent of the total aircraft passengers) will be subjected to post-arrival testing.
Previous guidelines were updated on Friday as a ‘Version of Concern’ in light of the World Health Organization’s classification of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 (B.1.1.1.529; dubbed Omicron). Citing the fact that it has a higher number of mutations (32), potentially making it more transmissible and dangerous. The WHO named it Omicron, which is the 15th letter of the Greek alphabet.
Omicron type causes ‘mild disease’
However, the South African Medical Association stated that the novel omicron variant of the coronavirus causes moderate illness with few symptoms.
According to the official, hospitals have not been flooded by Omicron patients, and no new strains have been discovered among people who have been vaccinated. On the other hand, people who have not been vaccinated may face a different situation.
countries at risk
United Kingdom, South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Hong Kong and Israel are among the ‘at risk countries’ according to the Union Health Ministry.
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