COVID-19 variants: Centre issues new guidelines for international arrivals

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The Centre has issued new guidelines for international arrivals as mutant variants of SARS-CoV-2 spread across the world. These will supersede all guidelines issued since August 2, 2020.

"This Standard Operating Procedure shall be valid w.e.f. 22nd February 2021 (23.59 Hrs IST) till further orders," the Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a statement on Wednesday.The guideines have been divided in three sections based on the origin of travel.

All international travellers except those coming through flights originating from United Kingdom, Europe and Middle East will be required to submit a self-declaration form on the online 'Air Suvidha' portal before the scheduled travel.

They would also need to upload a negative Covid-19 RT-PCR test report. This test should have been conducted within 72 hours prior to undertaking the journey.

"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 guidelines said.

According to the guidelines, all international travellers coming or transiting through flights originating from the United Kingdom, Europe and Middle East have to additionally submit a Self-Declaration Form (SDF) for Covid on the online 'Air Suvidha' portal before the scheduled travel and will be required to declare their travel history of the past 14 days.

"While filling SDF, apart from providing all other information required in the SDF, passengers need to select: Whether they plan to disembark at the arrival airport or take further flights to reach their final destination in India."

"Based on this selection, the receipt of SDF will display 'T' (Transit) in easily readable and bigger font than other text. The passengers will need to display this receipt to the state authority or government officials at the airport for segregation."

As per the guidelines, travellers from the UK, Brazil and South Africa taking connecting flights from the international airport they land at will have to give a sample at designated area and exit the airport only after confirmation of negative test report which may take 6-8 hours.

"Those transit travellers from UK, Brazil and South Africa who are found negative on testing at the airport shall be allowed to take their connecting flights and would be advised quarantine at home for 7 days and regularly followed up by the concerned state or district IDSP."

"These travellers shall be tested after 7 days and if negative, released from quarantine, and continue to monitor their health for a further 7 days."

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