However, it should be noted that 2% random testing will continue for international travellers at airports. With regard to this, the Union Health Secretary has written a letter to the Secretary of Aviation to update the guidelines … Read more
However, it should be noted that 2% random testing will continue for international travellers at airports. With regard to this, the Union Health Secretary has written a letter to the Secretary of Aviation to update the guidelines for International arrivals. Read less
As per the latest development, the Indian Government has announced to drop the requirement of COVID-19 testing and uploading of the ‘Air Suvidha’ form for international arrivals from Singapore, China, Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Japan.
However, it should be noted that 2% random testing will continue for international travellers at airports.
With regard to this, the Union Health Secretary has written a letter to the Secretary of Aviation to update the guidelines for International arrivals.
The letter reads, “The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare as a part of its proactive yet graded public health response to COVID-19 management has been updating 'Guidelines for International Arrivals’ from time to time. In the last update, based on the increasing trajectory of COVID-19 and circulation of mutant variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in some countries, the Ministry had mandated requirements of pre-departure COVID-19 testing and uploading of self-health declaration on the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s ‘Air Suvidha’ Portal.”
If reports are to go by, in the last 4 weeks, the said countries have been witnessing a significant decline in the trajectory of COVID-19 cases. Also, as per the latest situational update on COVID-19 by the World Health Organization, a decline of 89% of newly confirmed cases in the past 28 days has been recorded globally, as compared to 28 days prior to that. In the meantime, India has also witnessed a declining trajectory, with less than 100 new cases/day being reported.
As per the latter, in view of the above, this Ministry is updating its guidelines for international arrivals, and is dropping the existing requirements of pre-departure COVID-19 testing and uploading of self-health declaration on the Ministry of Civil Aviation's 'Air Suvidha' portal applicable for international travellers coming from/via China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Thailand and Japan.
However, it needs to be noted that 2% random testing will continue to monitor infections due to mutated variants of SARS-CoV-2 among international travellers to India.
Reportedly, the updated guidelines will come into effect from 11:00 am on Monday, February 13, 2023.
