Coronavirus | After reporting three COVID-19 mutant variants, India issues fresh air travel guidelines

India reports presence of U.K., S. Africa and Brazil mutant variants of SARS-CoV-2

A view of COVID-19 Testing Laboratory in Chennai International Airport.

The Union government on Thursday issued a fresh set of air travel guidelines, as the country reported the presence of the U.K., South Africa and Brazil mutant variants of SARS-CoV-2 that have demonstrated increased transmissibility, as reported by the World Health Organization. They have been currently detected in 86, 44 and 15 countries respectively, India being one of them.

The new SOP (standard operating procedure), which will come into effect at 11.59 p.m. on February 22 was released on late Wednesday night. “Based on the risk assessment, this document shall be reviewed from time to time,’’ notes the guidelines.

Self-declaration form

All international travellers are required to submit a self-declaration form on Air Suvidha portal and upload a COVID-negative RT-PCR report, with the test having been conducted within 72 hours prior to undertaking the journey. Each passenger should also submit a declaration regarding the authenticity of the report and will be liable for criminal prosecution if found otherwise, the guidelines state.

Only those travelling to India in case of emergencies such as the death of a family member will be allowed to arrive without a COVID-19 negative report. However, they should seek exemption on the online portal 72 hours prior to boarding.

Mention of travel history

For all international travellers coming from or transiting through flights originating from the UK, Europe and Middle East, apart from submitting the self-declaration form online and carrying the COVID-19 negative report, they are required to mention their travel history of the past 14 days. They also need to mention when they plan to disembark at the arrival airport or take further flights to India.

Airlines are to identify travellers arriving from or transiting through the U.K., South Africa and Brazil and segregate them during the journey and while deboarding. These travellers will have to give their samples for testing before exiting the airport. If they test positive, they have to undergo treatment as per standard health protocol, the SOP states.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in consultation with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, reviewed the situation with regard to point of entry actions and issued the guidelines.

The contacts of the suspect case are the co-passengers seated in the same row, three rows in front and three rows behind along with the identified cabin crew. Also, all the community contacts of those travellers who have tested positive (during home quarantine period) will be subjected to institutional quarantine in separate centres for 14 days and tested as per the Indian Council of Medical Research protocol.