International Passengers subject to random COVID-19 test can leave airport after sample is given: MoCA

New Delhi, Dec 02: The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) on Wednesday said only two per cent of the passengers coming from countries that are not in the 'at-risk' list will be subject to random sampling for coronavirus and such passengers will be permitted to leave the airport after giving the samples. Amid mounting concerns over the new COVID variant Omicron, stricter norms for international passengers came into effect from Tuesday midnight and all passengers coming from 'at-risk' countries have to compulsorily undergo COVID test, among other requirements.

Issuing a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), the ministry said that travellers undergoing random sampling may give the sample and be allowed to leave. "Now, the random sampling would be limited to 2 per cent as per the latest MoHFW (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) guidelines and it would be on a self-paid basis. Airlines/Airports may coordinate with the officials of State/UT governments to select the passenger at random sampling," the ministry said in a release.

There is also a question about travellers from countries, excluding those 'at-risk', transiting through the airports of countries 'at-risk' but staying within the airports. On whether such travellers can be exempted from post-arrival testing based on the self-declaration form, the ministry has provided clarification.

"Post-arrival testing can be exempted if a person is travelling from a not at-risk country and has only a transit (without leaving immigration) in an at-risk country before taking the destination flight. "However, if the person has travelled to any at-risk country in the last 14 days, he/she will be asked for post-arrival testing and other additional restrictions...," the release said.

On whether travellers who have submitted their sample for post-arrival COVID test at the point of arrival (self-paid) have to wait for their test results before leaving or taking a connecting flight, the ministry said, "after the negative results are received, the passengers can take connecting flights to reach their final destination". Further, the ministry said a passenger can exit the airport or can take connecting flights for the final destination once the negative report is received. "He/she need not wait for the report of all the co-passengers," it added.