India Eases Covid-19 Guidelines For International Travelers

The central government has further eased Covid-19 guidelines for international travelers coming to India, in view of the significant decrease in Covid-19 cases across the country.

The previous requirement for RT-PCR-based testing of a random subset of international travelers has now been dropped. These new guidelines are set to come into effect from midnight of July 20.

The guidelines have been eased after taking note of the prevalent coronavirus situation and the significant achievements made in vaccination coverage across the globe.

However, the earlier advice for precautionary measures to be followed by airlines as well as international travelers in the context of Covid shall continue to apply, the ministry said.

The union health ministry further said that it continues to follow the Covid-19 scenario closely.

According to the new guidelines for international arrivals, all travelers should preferably be fully vaccinated as per the approved primary schedule of vaccination against Covid-19 in their home country.

"Any passenger having symptoms of Covid-19 during travel shall be isolated as per standard protocol i.e. the said passenger should be wearing mask, isolated and segregated from other passengers in flight/travel and shifted to an isolation facility subsequently for follow up treatment," read the guidelines issued by the Ministry.

Among others, on arrival, 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, taken to a designated medical facility as per health protocol," it said.