India is currently witnessing a rapid spike in COVID cases across and many states have imposed new travel rules for international passengers. While we still recommend against flying from UAE to India right now, if you must travel for business or emergency purposes, here are all the state-by-state guidelines that you should know. Read on!
1. Maharashtra
Pre-arrival: All international passengers landing in Mumbai must submit a negative Covid-19 RT-PCR test report. The test must be taken no longer than 72 hours ahead of departure. The results must be uploaded on on the Air Suvidha portal. In addition, passengers must carry hard copies of the test result. There is no need for testing at the airport if their final destination is Maharashtra.
Arrival: All passengers must undergo a mandatory institutional quarantine for seven days at their own cost. This will then be followed by seven days of home quarantine with self-monitoring of health.
Quarantine: It is mandatory for passengers arriving in Mumbai from UAE with a destination within Maharashtra to undergo seven days’ institutional quarantine in a hotel or at a state-mandated quarantine centre.
On the seventh day, passengers must take another covid test at their own cost. If the result is negative, they can proceed for seven days of home quarantine. There is no need for a repeat test after the home quarantine period unless the passenger develops symptoms.
2. Kerala
Pre-travel: All passengers must register on the https://covid19jagratha.kerala.nic./ as well as on Air Suvidha 72 hours before departure. Testing will be free at Kerala’s airports.
Quarantine: All passengers arriving from UAE must undergo 14 days’ quarantine. Asymptomatic passengers can opt for home quarantine. A PCR test will then be done on the seventh day and if tested negative, further quarantine of seven days is optional and not mandatory.
Those who don’t get tested would be advised to continue on quarantine for the remaining seven days and complete a total of 14 days in quarantine.
3. Karnataka
Arrival: International passengers arriving at Bangalore airport must undergo compulsory screening for Covid-19. Symptomatic passengers will be segregated from other passengers and will be sent to dedicated Covid Health Centre for testing.
Quarantine: Those who test negative must follow home or institutional quarantine for 14 days. If you test positive, based on the severity of your symptoms, you will either be asked to undergo home or institutional quarantine or shifted to the government or private Covid hospital. Asymptomatic passengers must complete home or institutional quarantine for 14 days.
4. Tamil Nadu
Arrival: All passengers arriving at any of the Tamil Nadu airports must undergo compulsory Covid screening. Symptomatic passengers will be sent to dedicated health centre for testing. If tested negative, you will be advised to complete home and institutional quarantine for 14 days.
Quarantine: If tested positive, based on the severity of your symptoms, you will either be asked to undergo home and institutional quarantine or shifted to the government or private hospital. Asymptomatic passengers will be advised to complete home/institutional quarantine for 14 days.
Watch this space for more information for travel during COVID times.