7-day home quarantine scrapped, new rules for intl arrivals

Travellers arriving in India won't have to undergo a mandatory seven-day home quarantine or an RT-PCR test on the eighth day from February 14, according to revised guidelines for international arrivals issued on Thursday.

There will be random sampling of 2 per cent of International travellers from all countries on arrival. They can give their samples and will be allowed to leave the airport after that, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Twitter.

Instead of the seven-day home quarantine mandated earlier, all travellers will self-monitor their health for 14 days after their arrival, he said while detailing the relaxation in curbs for international arrivals.

Apart from uploading a negative RT-PCR report (taken 72 hours before the journey), there will be an option to upload certificates of the completion of full primary COVID vaccination schedule provided from countries on a reciprocal basis.

The ministry provided a list of 82 such countries. These include the US, US, New Zealand, Switzerland , Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Bangladesh, Iran, Nepal, Mexico and the Netherlands.

The demarcation of countries 'at-risk' and other countries has been removed.

Accordingly, the need for giving samples on port of arrival and waiting till the result is obtained from countries 'at-risk' has been dispensed with.

"Need for undertaking RT-PCR test on 8th day & uploading the same on Air Suvidha portal is dispensed with," Mandaviya tweeted.

Passengers found to be symptomatic during screening after arrival shall be immediately isolated and taken to a medical facility in accordance with health protocol. If tested positive, their contacts shall be identified and managed as per laid down protocol.

If such travellers test positive, their samples should be further sent for genomic testing at INSACOG laboratory network and they will be treated/isolated in accordance with standard protocol, the guidelines state.

International travellers arriving through seaports/land ports will also have to undergo the same protocol as above, except that the facility for online registration is not available for such passengers currently.

Children under five years of age are exempted from both pre- and post-arrival testing. However, if found symptomatic for COVID-19 on arrival or during the period of self-monitoring period, they shall undergo testing and treated as per laid down protocol, the guidelines state.