No PCR test for fully vaccinated passengers travelling from Qatar to India

India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare yesterday revised its guidelines for international arrivals, including the removal of Covid-19 RT PCR testing before boarding for fully vaccinated passengers from 82 countries, including Qatar, starting February 14. According to the new guidelines, such passengers need to upload their "certificate of full primary vaccination" before the scheduled travel on the Air Suvidha portal, reports said.

The US, New Zealand, Switzerland , Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Iran, Nepal, Mexico and the Netherlands are some of the other countries on the list. Further, the guidelines stipulate that the mandatory seven-day home quarantine is no longer required for international travellers, who will instead have to self-monitor their health for 14 days after arrival. The need for them to undertake an RT-PCR test on the eighth day is also done away with.“Thermal screening would be carried out in respect of all passengers and those passengers found symptomatic during screening shall be immediately isolated and taken to medical facility as per health protocol. If tested positive, their contacts shall be identified and managed as per laid down protocol,” according to the revised guidelines.“2% of the total passengers in flight shall undergo random post-arrival testing at the airport (in India). Such travellers on each flight shall be identified by the airlines concerned (preferably from different countries). They will submit the samples and shall be allowed to leave the airport. If such travellers are tested positive, their samples should be further sent for genomic testing at INSACOG laboratory network. They shall be treated/isolated as per laid down standard protocol,” it added.Children under five years of age are exempted from both pre- and post-arrival testing. However, if found symptomatic for Covid-19 on arrival or during the period of self-monitoring, they shall undergo testing and treated as per the protocol, the guidelines state. If travellers under self-health monitoring, develop signs and symptoms suggestive of Covid-19, they will immediately self-isolate and report to their nearest health facility or call the national helpline number (1075) or state helpline number.All passengers need to submit a self-declaration form, PCR report or vaccination certificate on the Air Suvidha portal (https://www.newdelhiairport.in/airsuvidha/apho-registration) before the scheduled travel, including the last 14 days' travel details.