As international flights resume operations, the government has come up with detailed guidelines for passengers flying into the country in the coming days. The guidelines stand as a precautionary measure to avoid any rise in COVID-19 cases.
Last week, the Delhi Airport had announced that flyers with no onward connection will have to undergo a 7-day institutional quarantine (followed by another 7 days at home) at their own cost.
Now, this rule has been made mandatory for all flyers arriving on flights operating under 'bilateral air bubbles' to any airport in the country.
Screening will be in two phases the first will be at the airport, and the second at the check post of various states in the airport premises. After that, passengers will be allowed to proceed to the approved quarantine location.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla on July21.
The guidelines issued states that all passengers will have to undergo mandatory health screening. This includes a primary thermal screening by discreetly mounted, high-accuracy, mass screening cameras by airport health officials. The secondary screening will be done by officials of the respective states stationed at dedicated triage areas within the airport.
If anyone is found to be symptomatic, they will be isolated and sent to containment zones next to the terminal building, and later, to a hospital or medical centre for a check-up or treatment.
If you are from Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, you can head out to the 'Meeters & Greeters' area at the separate triage facilities, and report at your state's post.
All passengers will be required to fill an online form with details of their end destination and where they would be quarantined.
However, some people can apply for exemption from quarantine. For this, you will have to fill up a form and talk to government officials in the &lsquoMeet and Greet&rsquo area. If you get approved for exemption from quarantine in Delhi because your final destination is in another state, you must make quarantine arrangements in your destination with government officials.
Certain cases will be considered for exemption from quarantine. For instance, pregnant women, those accompanied by children below 10, people who have had a death in the family, or those who are suffering from a serious illness. You will need some documents for filing an exemption request which include a medical certificate, a death certificate, copy of your passport, and a ticket for your next flight.
Meanwhile, in an effort to speed up the immigration process, around 150 protective glass shields have been installed at each immigration counter at the Delhi Airport, so that two persons can safely complete their immigration process while maintaining social distancing rules. Earlier, passengers had to wait 10 to 12 hours for processing.