India tightens Covid tests for 'at risk' international travellers

Indian Health Ministry has revised guidelines for international arrivals in India.

The guidelines will be effective from December 1. It requires passengers to submit the self-declaration form on the online Air Suvidha Portal before the scheduled travel and submit the last 14 days of travel details. The guidelines also mandated the uploading of negative RT-PCR test reports on the Air Suvidha portal before the journey. The test should have been conducted within 72 hours before undertaking the journey.

As per Indian Health Ministry's guidelines, travellers from 'countries at-risk' will now need to take the Covid-19 test post-arrival and wait for results at the airport.

If tested negative, they will follow home quarantine for seven days. They will have to take a re-test on eight-day and, if negative, further self-monitor for the next seven days.

A sub-section (5 per cent of the total flight passengers) shall undergo post-arrival testing at random at the airport on arrival.

According to the Health Ministry, the 'countries at risk' include countries in Europe, including the United Kingdom, South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Hong Kong, Israel.

The existing guidelines have been revised in view of reporting of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 (B.1.1.529; named Omicron), which has now been classified as a Variant of Concern by the World Health Organization.

(ANI)