New rules in place as flights begin

Only asymptomatic passengers can fly: Govt

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:  25.05.2020

As Indian skies prepare to open up for domestic flights from Monday after the long pandemic-induced lockdown, the Centre has once again clarified that only passengers without Covid-19 symptoms will be allowed to fly and on arrival will have to self-monitor their health for 14 days. If passengers develop any Covid-like symptoms after travel, they will need to inform the district surveillance officer or the state/national call centre, say the guidelines for domestic travel by air, train and inter-state bus issued on Sunday by the Union health ministry.

For international arrivals, the guidelines mandate that all travellers, before boarding the aircraft to India, “shall give an undertaking that they will undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days — seven-day paid institutional quarantine at their own cost, followed by seven days’ isolation at home with selfmonitoring of health.”

A 14-day home quarantine may be permitted only in exceptional cases like “human distress, pregnancy, death in family, serious illness and parent(s) accompanied by children below 10 years” by receiving states. Such passengers will mandatorily need to use the Aarogya Setu app.

The Centre, however, has allowed states to develop their own isolation and quarantine protocols. This allows different states to have different entry protocols, which passengers must individually check before getting on a train, plane or bus. Travellers have also been advised to download the Aarogya Setu app, but it is not mandatory for them, except for those going for 14-day home quarantine upon return from abroad.

Aviation minister H S Puri tweeted: “Latest guidelines on domestic & international travel have been issued by the Union health ministry. I hope travellers strictly follow these self-regulatory norms and strengthen India’s hands in this fight against Covid-19. Remember, each one of us is a soldier against the pandemic.”

The guidelines for domestic travellers say: “Those found symptomatic will be isolated and taken to the nearest health facility. They will be assessed for clinical severity at the health facility. Those having moderate or severe symptoms will be admitted to dedicated Covid health facilities and managed accordingly. Those having mild symptoms will be given the option of home isolation or isolated in the Covid care centre.”

“If positive, they will continue in Covid care centre and will be managed as per clinical protocol. If negative, the passenger may be allowed to go home, isolate himself/herself for further 7 days. In case, any symptoms develop they shall inform the district surveillance officer or the state/ national call centre,” the guidelines added.

Full report on www.toi.in

Airline staff at Chennai airport on Sunday prepare for flight resumption