Planning a trip to India? Here is an updated list of quarantine rules

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KT file photo by Shihab
KT file photo by Shihab

Published: Thu 29 Oct 2020, 4:02 PM

As more Indian citizens in the UAE and elsewhere are travelling home on short trips for personal and professional reasons, the Indian government has revised its quarantine regulations for international and domestic travellers.

by

Dhanusha Gokulan

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From the UAE alone, an average of 4,000 travellers are going to India every day, according to officials at the Indian mission in Dubai.


Neeraj Agarwal, Consul — Press, Information and Culture at the Consulate-General of India in Dubai, said: “On average, there are at least 4,000 passengers who are travelling to India every day. We are witnessing similar traffic from India to the UAE as well.”

He added: “This may be happening because air travel between these countries are returning to normal and people are travelling not just for repatriation purposes, but also for short trips.”


Until October 28, India’s colossal repatriation effort Vande Bharat Mission has repatriated a staggering 20.38 million Indians from across the globe since its launch on May 6.

For those planning a short or long-term trip to India, here are the latest list of quarantine regulations to commonly travelled states in India, published by the Airports Authority of India on October 20.

Bihar

Seven days free government/institutional quarantine followed by home quarantine for asymptomatic travellers arriving at Gaya Airport. Exempted category of asymptomatic passengers as per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare guidelines are allowed for 14-day home quarantine.

Odisha

International passengers arriving with RT-PCR negative test result will be exempt from institutional quarantine.

West Bengal

Only passengers who are tested Covid-19 negative (RT-PCR test) 96 hours prior to the journey can take the flight. Test reports and undertakings in the prescribed format against each passenger will have to be uploaded in the portal www.newdelhiairport.in at least 24 hours prior to departure to the departure flight.

On arrival, test reports and the approval issued through the portal against each passenger will be verified. Passengers having the negative test report shall undergo home quarantine for 14-days.

Madhya Pradesh

Institutional quarantine is not required, but all passengers have to undergo 14 days home quarantine. Passengers are expected to certify the status of their health through the Aarogya Setu Mobile App or a self-declaration form. A rapid antigen test is conducted at the airport.

Goa

Symptomatic passengers will be sent to Covid Care Centre as per state government guidelines. All incoming passengers must undergo 14-day home quarantine. Rapid antigen test is mandatory for all arriving passengers. If the report returns positive, passengers will be sent to COVID Care Centre as per state government guidelines.

Gujarat

(Ahmedabad Airport)

Seven-day institutional quarantine for those who don’t have valid negative RT-PCR test report. After seven days of institutional quarantine, they will undergo seven-day home quarantine.

Passengers are expected to certify the status of their health through the Aarogya Setu mobile app or a self-declaration form. If the passenger is symptomatic upon arrival, the airline will guide them along with their bags to a dedicated room. Those landing at the Surat Airport required to undergo 14 days of home quarantine.

Maharashtra

Seven-day institutional quarantine and seven-day home quarantine for those passengers not carrying valid negative RT-PCR test report. For those having negative test report, only 14-day home quarantine is required.

Rajasthan

Seven-day institutional quarantine is mandatory for all passengers. Symptomatic passengers shall be isolated and taken to the nearest health facility. Travellers may seek an exception from institutional quarantine by submitting a Covid-19 negative report on arrival. The test must be updated on the www.newdelhiairport.in website for consideration.

Jammu and Kashmir

Institutional quarantine is not applicable. Home quarantine for 14 days for passengers with valid contactable mobile number. For passengers who do not have a mobile number, paid quarantine is recommended for 14 days or till their test returns negative.

Business travellers with confirmed return or onward ticket within four days of arrival and confirmed hotel reservation is exempt from institutional quarantine.

Delhi

For exemption from institutional quarantine, passengers must submit a negative RT-PCR Covid-19 test. Those passengers with death in the family, serious illness or pregnancy can seek home quarantine in addition to parents with children under 10 years of age. Exemption from home quarantine is decided by the state government on the basis of a valid document provided by the traveller.

Punjab

All passengers who present a Covid-19 negative test will be exempt from institutional quarantine. A rapid test is conducted on all remaining passengers. If tested positive, institutional quarantine is mandatory.

Uttar Pradesh

Institutional quarantine is mandatory for seven days. In the event of a death in the family, serious illness or being a parent of children under the age of 10, the passenger shall be exempt from institutional quarantine. However, they have to undergo home quarantine for 14 days. Passengers who present a RT-PCR test negative result are also exempt from institutional quarantine.

Kerala

Seven days of home quarantine for all visitors to Kerala. They can be tested on the seventh day after arrival and if tested negative, further quarantine of seven days is optional and not mandatory, though 14-day quarantine is desirable as per the health protocol. Those who don’t get tested would be advised to continue on quarantine for the remaining seven days and complete a total of 14 days in quarantine.

Andhra Pradesh

All passengers shall submit self-declaration form on online portal https://www.spandana.ap.gov.in/ at least 72 hours before scheduled travel. Passengers need to give an undertaking on the portal for mandatory paid quarantine for 14 days, if required. Travellers need to undergo Rapid Antigen Test on payment of Rs500 at the airport. Those tested negative shall be allowed for 14 days home quarantine. Travellers who are having negative RT-PCR test report may be exempted from a test at the airport.

Tamil Nadu

All passengers coming from other countries have to undergo 14 days of home quarantine. During the period, if the individual develops fever, cough or breathlessness they shall visit a health facility. All the passengers who are travelling to Tamil Nadu from other countries should have a negative RT-PCR test report.

Karnataka

All passengers will be sent to home quarantine for 14 days. If home quarantine is not possible for any reason, they shall be allowed institutional quarantine.

Symptomatic passengers will be sent to Dedicated Covid Health Centre (DCHC) for testing. International business trip and return within 48 hours are exempted from quarantine.

If duration of stay is more than 48 hrs but less than seven days, Covid test will be done and after receiving negative report they can complete their engagements and go back.

Business and short-term visitors who come with negative RT-PCR test results are exempted from quarantine. The test should have been conducted within 96 hrs prior to boarding.

dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com


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