The Ministry of Civil Aviation recently announced updated guidelines for the international passengers coming to India in view of the rising cases of a mutant strain of covid-19 in India. 

The government has suspended international scheduled flights until February 28. Overseas flights are currently operated as per air bubble agreements with various countries. 

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Though, no new strain has been detected in the Middle East, travellers from Brazil and South Africa transit through the region to reach India as there are no direct flights to the two countries. 

In addition, for travellers coming from destinations other than the UK, Europe and the Middle East, this condition will be waived if they are travelling due to exigent circumstances, it said. 

All the airlines were asked to segregate passengers originating from the UK, Europe and the Middle East to facilitate authorities in following due protocol. Such passengers will mandatorily be subjected to a self-paid confirmatory molecular test, the Health ministry said. 

All incoming international travellers coming/transiting through flights originating from United Kingdom, Europe and Middle East should make sure that they follow the new guidelines issued by @MoHFW_India. pic.twitter.com/uwgj1RBqW9

The advisory added that in case of any person arriving from these countries tests Covid positive, samples will be taken for genome sequencing of the strain. 

If they are found to be infected with a variant strain, their treatment will be done in separate isolation as per the protocol.  

India is now third in Covid vaccinations after the US and the UK with the number of people who have received the first shots against coronavirus crossing 94 lakh mark. 

The daily Covid positivity rate has seen a constant decline in the last seven days —it has now dropped from 1.89% on February 1 to 1.69% on Thursday.

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