New Delhi: The Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued a fresh set of Covid guidelines for passengers arriving on international flights from six countries including China and Thailand. Circulation of dangerous Covid-19 variants is comparatively high in these nations.
The RT-PCR negative test taken 72 hours before undertaking the journey is compulsory for people arriving from China, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, and Japan from January 1, 2023. Airlines are asked to modify their check-in functionalities to incorporate the changes. Boarding passes can only be issued to those who have submitted self-declaration forms on the Air Suvidha portal.
"Air Suvidha portal self-declaration has been made operational for passengers travelling on all international flights from China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Thailand, and Japan, with a provision to allow these international travellers arriving in India to upload negative RT-PCR test reports as well as to submit self-declaration form," said the ministry.
Airports are also asked to continue the practice of random testing of 2% of arriving passengers on each international flight.
All scheduled commercial airlines, airport operators, and chief secretaries/ administrators of states/Union Territories have received instructions from the ministry to minimise the risk of another Covid-19 wave.