More stringent restrictions at the airport in the wake of the Omicron virus.
MUMBAI: Restrictions at international airports have been tightened amid a crisis over the new Omicron virus found in South Africa.
Against the backdrop of this new virus, the Indian government has declared many countries as ‘at-risk countries with the highest risk of corona infection. In order to prevent the spread of this virus in Maharashtra, many restrictions have been imposed on air transport in the state.
A – The restrictions imposed by the Government of India on 28 November 2021 and the guidelines issued thereunder shall be implemented with immediate effect as minimum restrictions.
B – The DCP of Immigration as well as the FRRO has been directed to make it mandatory for all passengers arriving at the airport by international flight to provide details of the countries they have visited in the last fortnight. Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) has been directed to inform all the airlines about the passengers who have flown in the last fortnight so that it is easy to verify the travel information of these passengers. If passengers misrepresent, they can be prosecuted under various sections of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
C – International travellers from the countries declared as ‘most at risk of corona infection’ declared by the Government of India should be checked by MIAL and Airport Authority by setting up separate counters in order of priority. All such passengers will be required to undergo institutional separation for seven days. Similarly on the second, fourth and seventh days their RTPCR tests will also be done. If they test positive, they will be hospitalized and if the test is negative, they will have to stay at home for seven days.
D – Passengers coming from other non-hazardous countries will be required to undergo an RTPCR test on landing at the airport and will have to stay in house separation for 14 days even if the test report is negative. If any of these passengers are positive, they will be admitted to the hospital.
E– If any international passenger with a connecting flight wants to go to any airport in India, he/she will have to undergo an RTPCR test for the first time at the airport in Maharashtra and in case of a negative report, he/she will be allowed to board the connecting aircraft. The information of such passengers will be given to the destination airport where they will be landing so that the airport here can make separate arrangements for these passengers. If such passengers are taking connecting flights at the airport in Maharashtra, then the passengers landing directly on the international flight will have to follow all the rules mentioned in the segregation diet.
F– All passengers travelling in the state for domestic air travel must be fully vaccinated. If not, they will be required to have an RTPCR report 48 hours prior to arrival.
G- Passengers arriving from other states must have a negative RTPCR test report within 48 hours of arrival, without exception.
