New Delhi: Taking note of an overall improvement in the global situation, India today further eased guidelines for international travellers in the context of COVID-19.
The Union Health Ministry announced that it had dropped the earlier requirements for RT-PCR-based testing of a random 2% subset of international travellers to India.
The new guidelines shall come into effect from 0000 Hrs (IST) of July 20, 2023, the Ministry said.
However, the earlier advice for the precautionary measures to be followed in the context of COVID-19 by airlines as well as international travellers shall continue to apply. While all travellers should preferably be fully vaccinated as per the approved primary schedule of vaccination against COVID-19 in their respective countries, during travel masks should preferably be used and physical distancing should be followed in flights and at all points of entry.
The new guidelines provide that de-boarding should be done by ensuring physical distancing and that thermal screening should be done in respect of all the passengers by the health officials present at the point of entry. Furthermore, all travellers will be required to self-monitor their health post-arrival and shall report to their nearest health facility or call the National Helpline number (1075)/ State Helpline Number in case they have any symptoms suggestive of COVID-19.
Any passenger having symptoms of COVID-19 during travel shall be immediately isolated as per standard protocol and segregated from other passengers in flight/travel and taken to a designated medical facility as per health protocol and shifted to an isolation facility subsequently for follow-up treatment.
The updated guidelines have been made available on the official website of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The Ministry said it continues to follow the COVID-19 scenario closely.
It may be mentioned that during a 28-day period between June 12 and July 9, 2023, 57% (133 of 234) of countries and territories reported at least one case – a proportion that has been declining since mid-2022.
– global bihari bureau
