Health Ministry eases COVID-19 guidelines for international travellers

The Centre has further eased the guidelines for international travellers in the context of COVID-19 and the earlier requirements for RT-PCR-based testing of a random two per cent subset of international travellers to India have been dropped.
Health Ministry said that it has further eased guidelines for international travellers in the context of COVID-19 taking note of the prevalent COVID-19 situation and the significant achievements made in vaccination coverage across the globe.
“Vide these new guidelines, which shall come into effect from 0000 Hrs (IST) of July 20, 2023, the earlier requirements for RT-PCR based testing of a random 2% subset of international travellers to India, now stand dropped,” a Health Ministry release said on Wednesday.
As per the new guidelines, “In-flight announcement about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic including precautionary measures to be followed, preferable use of masks and following physical distancing shall be made in flights/travel and at all points of entry. Any passenger having symptoms of COVID-19 during travel shall be isolated as per standard protocol and the said passenger should be wearing a mask, isolated and segregated from other passengers in flight/travel and shifted to an isolation facility subsequently for follow-up treatment.”Upon arriving at the Indian airports, the de-boarding should be done while ensuring physical distancing. The guidelines further said, “Thermal screening should be done in respect of all the passengers by the health officials present at the point of entry. The passengers found to be symptomatic during screening shall be immediately isolated, and taken to a designated medical facility as per health protocol. All travellers should self-monitor their health post-arrival and also 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,”
However, the earlier advice for precautionary measures to be followed in the context of COVID-19 by airlines as well as international travellers shall continue to apply.
The release said that Health Ministry continues to follow the COVID-19 scenario closely.