Image Courtesy: Twitter
Air India Express published rules on Tuesday for passengers flying from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to India to maintain Covid-appropriate behaviour.
The guideline suggests that all travellers be fully immunised against Covid-19 according to their country’s recommended main immunisation schedule. Other precautions to consider when travelling include wearing masks and keeping a physical distance.
“All guests should preferably be fully vaccinated as per the approved primary schedule of vaccination against COVID-19 in their country. All guests should preferably use masks and follow physical distancing on flights/travel and at all points of entry,” the official Twitter handle of Air India Express tweeted.
Air India Express, headquartered in Kochi, Kerala, is notable for being India’s first international budget carrier, serving the Middle East and Southeast Asia. It is operated by Air India Express Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Air India, India’s national carrier.
However, according to the standards, post-arrival random testing is not necessary for children under the age of 12.
Only if the children are found to be symptomatic for COVID-19 upon arrival or during self-monitoring are they obliged to undertake testing and treatment in accordance with the protocol.
“Children under 12 years of age are exempted from post-arrival random testing. However, if found symptomatic for COVID-19 on arrival or during the period of self-monitoring, they shall undergo testing and be treated as per the protocol,” the advisory by Air India Express read.
The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) announced on Thursday that at least 2% of arriving passengers on international flights to the country will be subjected to random sampling as a preventive measure for Covid-19.
According to an official statement from the MoCA, the passengers will be recognised by the airline and will be permitted to depart the airport following sample collection. Those found to be infected will be isolated, and their samples will be sent for genome sequencing.
“This arrangement should come into practice with effect from 10:00 am on December 24,” as per the statement from MoCA.
In the Lok Sabha last week, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya stated that the government has begun random RT-PCR sampling among passengers arriving at international airports in the country in light of the recent increase in Coronavirus infection in countries such as China, Japan, South Korea, France, and the United States.
Meanwhile, in response to the COVID-19 epidemic, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare established ‘Guidelines for International Arrivals,’ which will be evaluated and changed on a regular basis.
