iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
Air India has issued an advisory for passengers from five countries to be put through a mandatory RTPCR test within 72 hours of their scheduled journey. The passengers will have to upload their report on the Air Suvidha portal from 1 January 2023.
With the sudden increase in Covid cases in some countries, Air India on Thursday issued a fresh travel advisory for all passengers traveling to India from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Thailand.
The latest advisory comes hours after the Ministry of Health made the RTPCR test mandatory for passengers from these Covid-hit countries.
As per the advisory, passengers from these countries will now have to undergo a mandatory RTPCR test within 72 hours of the journey and upload their report on the Air Suvidha portal from 1st January 2023.
The Air India advisory states: “All travelers should preferably be fully vaccinated as per the approved primary schedule of vaccination against COVID-19 in their country. Additional requirements apply to passengers on all international flights from certain high-risk countries – China, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, and Japan.”
“Such travelers would be required to – Submit complete and factual information in the self-declaration form on the online Air Suvidha portal (www.newdelhiairport.in) before the scheduled travel, including the last 14 days’ travel details; upload negative COVID-19 RT-PCR report on the Air Suvidha portal (The test should have been conducted within 72 hrs prior to undertaking the journey); each passenger will also have to submit a declaration with respect to the authenticity of the report and will be liable for criminal prosecution if found otherwise; it is mandatory for the travelers to also give an undertaking on the portal or otherwise to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, through concerned airlines before they are allowed to undertake the journey that they would abide by the decision of the appropriate government authority for any post arrival requirement including home, institutional quarantine, self-health monitoring, as warranted.”
“Air India’s travel advisory also specifies that all travelers should self-monitor their health post-arrival and that they shall report to their nearest health facility or call the national helpline number (1075) or State Helpline Number in case they have any symptoms suggestive of COVID-19.”
“Children under 12 years of age have been exempted from both pre-departure and post-arrival random testing. However, if found symptomatic for COVID-19 on arrival or during the period of self-monitoring period, they shall undergo testing and be treated as per the protocol.”
