Covid Guidelines: On December 22, the Health Ministry issued a new set of guidelines for international travellers, stating that children under the age of 12 would be exempt from random testing at airports but would be tested for COVID if symptomatic.
“Children under the age of 12 are not subject to post-arrival random testing. However, if they are found to be symptomatic for COVID-19 upon arrival or during the self-monitoring period, they will be tested and treated according to the protocol,” the ministry stated in its guidelines.
The guidelines will go into effect at 10 a.m. on December 24.
Indian Medical Association ( IMA ) issues advisory on impending #COVID outbreak
Advisory :-– wear face mask
– avoid international travel
– avoid going to crowded places
– social distancing to be maintained
– regular hand washing with soap or sanitizer
– follow Covid guidelines pic.twitter.com/IqJYWcLbmF— Sameer Dixit (@sameerdixit16) December 22, 2022
The Centre issued new ‘Guidelines for International Arrivals’ on Thursday, amid growing concern about a new Covid wave, with cases increasing in China and other countries. The updated guidelines include protocols that must be followed by international travellers as well as points of entry (airports, seaports, and land borders) and will be in effect from December 24, 2022 until further orders are issued.
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Covid Protocols to be followed before arrival, during flight :
All travellers should preferably be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 according to their country’s approved primary schedule of vaccination.
In-flight announcements about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as well as precautionary measures to be taken (preferably mask use and physical separation) will be made on flights/travel and at all points of entry.
Any passenger experiencing COVID-19 symptoms during travel should be isolated according to standard protocol, which means wearing a mask, being isolated and separated from other passengers in flight/travel, and being transferred to an isolation facility for further treatment.
Covid Protocols to be followed on arrival:
De-boarding should be done with physical distance in mind.
Thermal screening of all passengers should be performed by health officials present at the point of entry.
Passengers who exhibit symptoms during screening must be immediately isolated and transported to a designated medical facility in accordance with health protocol (as above).
A subset (2% of the total passengers on the flight) will be subjected to random post-arrival testing at the airport.
Health & Family Welfare Ministry issues ‘Guidelines for International Arrivals’ in context of COVID-19 pandemic.
▪️ 2% of the total passengers* in flights to undergo random post arrival testing at the airport on arrival. pic.twitter.com/mZ7VogR61T
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) December 23, 2022
The airlines involved will identify such passengers on each flight (preferably from different countries).
They will submit the samples and then be permitted to leave the airport.
If such travellers’ samples are found to be positive, they should be sent to the INSACOG laboratory network for genomic testing.
All travellers should self-monitor their health after arrival and report to their nearest health facility or call the National Helpline Number (1075)/State Helpline Number if they have any symptoms that are suggestive.
Post-arrival random testing is not required for children under the age of 12. However, if they are found to be symptomatic for COVID-19 upon arrival or during the self-monitoring period, they will be tested and treated according to the protocol.
