Rapid Growing Omicron; All States Issue New Travel Guidelines For Arrivals; Full Details Here

New coronavirus variant Omicron is being reported from different parts of the country, with several states uopdating travel restrictions and quarantine norms. This new variant is reported to have a significantly higher number of mutations and thus, has serious public health implications for the country.

Several states and union territories have tightened travel rules for both domestic and international passengers. Earlier last week, India issued revised guidelines, making it mandatory for all international travelers to submit 14-day travel details and upload a negative RT-PCR test report on the Air Suvidha portal before travelling. The new guidelines have come into effect from December 01.

Delhi

1. RT-PCR is mandatory for every passenger coming from abroad at the airport.
2. If testing positive for COVID-19, the passengers will have to follow strict isolation and their samples will be sent for genome sequencing.
3. The passengers will be kept in a separate quarantine center, for which a dedicated 40-bed ward has been made in Delhi's Lok Nayak Jaiprakash Hospital.
4. If the report comes negative, they will do self-monitoring for seven days. The cost of the test will be borne by the passenger.
5. No such restriction will apply to travelers coming from countries other than the government's 'at risk' list. However, they will be advised to self-monitor their symptoms for 14 days.
6. Random testing of 5 per cent of such passengers will be done.
7. The cost of testing such passengers and their samples will be borne by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and sent for genome sequencing.
8. Children below 5 years of age will be exempted from this test.
9. If a child has symptoms, he will be examined.

Maharashtra

1. High risk air passengers (arriving from South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe) may be de-boarded on a priority basis and subject to screening and verification at all international airports in the state of Maharashtra by the respective airport management authorities. Counters will be arranged.
2. "High-risk 'air travellers' shall undergo RTPCR test immediately upon arrival at the concerned international airport and shall undergo mandatory 7 days "institutional quarantine" with a second RTPCR test on the 7th day. If any RTPCR test is found positive, such "high risk air passenger" will be shifted to a hospital with COVID-19 treatment facilities.
3. If the result of the 7th day RT-PCR test comes back negative, then such a "high risk" air traveller will have to undergo another 7 days of home quarantine.
4. In case of domestic air travel, passengers will either have to be fully vaccinated or carry a mandatorily RT-PCR test certificate showing negative result within 72 hours before boarding.

Uttarakhand

1. People traveling to Uttarakhand from other states will have to undergo a mandatory test.
2. All the districts have been directed that if any traveler coming from outside the state shows symptoms of Covid, he should be examined and if found positive later, he should be kept in quarantine for 14 days.

Kerala

1. According to the guidelines of the Center, five percent of the passengers coming from other countries will be randomly screened.
2. Those coming into the state from high-risk countries will have to undergo RT-PCR test. They will be kept under special surveillance.
3. If their RT-PCR test report comes back negative, they will be asked to remain in home quarantine for at least two weeks
4. If their report comes back positive, they will be shifted to the treatment centre.

West Bengal

1. Passengers from other states should carry the report of their RTPCR tests done at least 72 hours before boarding the flight.
2. Those coming to the state from Omicron-affected countries will have to spend seven days in isolation.
3. Directions have also been given to set up a special ward at the government-run Beliaghata ID Hospital exclusively for patients who test positive for Omicron.

Jammu and Kashmir

1. RT-PCR test is mandatory for foreign travelers at Srinagar International Airport.
2. Anyone found to be COVID-19 positive will have to undergo institutional quarantine and be treated as per standard protocol.
3. The samples of the positive cases will be immediately sent to the designated INSACOG Genome Sequencing Laboratories (IGSL).
4. Contacts of passengers who test positive will be closely tracked and tested
5. However, people from 'at-risk' countries who test negative will have to be in home quarantine for seven days. They should be tested again on the 8th day, and if tested negative, they would be advised to self-monitor for at least two weeks.
6. Travelers arriving from countries deemed 'not at risk' and whose samples test negative should be advised to be carefully monitored for at least two weeks.

Karnataka

1. International travelers arriving in the state will compulsorily undergo RT-PCR test. He will have to stay in home quarantine for seven days.
2. Upon international arrival, if tested positive, the sample will be sent for genomic sequencing and they will be admitted to a separate isolation facility.
3. If genomic sequencing is negative for B.1.1529 (Omicron type), they will be discharged at the discretion of the treating physician.
4. For travelers arriving from countries other than those listed as at-risk countries, a random sample of five per cent of passengers with negative results will undergo an RT-PCR test on arrival. If tested positive, their samples will be sent for genomic sequencing.
5. The list of countries from where travelers will have to follow additional measures on arrival includes all countries in Europe, including the UK, South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Hong Kong and Israel.

Tamil Nadu

1. RT-PCR test is mandatory for passengers arriving at any airport in the state from at-risk countries.
2. Passengers will remain at the airport concerned till their RT-PCR test result is negative.
3. Random sampling will be done for passengers coming from countries other than 'at risk'.

Lakshadweep

1. Passengers will have to carry a negative RT-PCR test report received within 48 hours of the journey and submit it at the entry and exit points.
2. After arriving on the islands, visitors will have to follow COVID appropriate behavior and undergo a three-day mandatory quarantine. This is not applicable for people who have taken both doses of the vaccine 14 days before their travel.
3. No COVID-19 test results required for inter-island travel for those vaccinated with two doses 14 days before their travel, but for those who were partially or non-vaccinated by RT-PCR not only That is, for carrying negative test reports, they will mandatorily undergo a three-day quarantine.

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Also Read: Omicron Virus; Maharashtra Updates Travel Guidelines For International And Domestic Travellers