Ministry of Health issues new guidelines for domestic travel

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued a new set of guidelines for domestic travel in India. The guidelines for domestic travel will cover flight, train, ship, bus and inter-state travel. The Health Ministry notification cited the decline in Covid-19 cases trajectory and to facilitate inter-state travel, a fresh set of guidelines have been released.

New Delhi: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued a new set of guidelines for domestic travel in India. The guidelines for domestic travel will cover flight, train, ship, bus and inter-state travel. The Health Ministry notification cited the decline in Covid-19 cases trajectory and to facilitate inter-state travel, a fresh set of guidelines have been released. The new guidelines aim to have uniformity in domestic travel across the country.

General Advisory to all passengers

1. Passengers should self-monitor their health and travel only when they have no symptoms related to Covid-19.
2. All passengers shall follow Covid-19 appropriate behaviour at all times which includes the use of mask/face cover, hand hygiene and physical distancing of six feet as far as feasible.
3. Masks/face covers must be worn properly to cover the nose and mouth. Touching the front portion of mask/face covers to be avoided.
4. Avoid spitting in public places during travel,
5. All passengers shall be advised to download the Arogya Setu app on their mobile devices.
6. If they develop a fever during travel, they shall report to cabin crew/TTE/bus conductor as the case may be.
7. If they develop symptoms after reaching their final destination, they shall inform the District Surveillance Officer or the State/National Call Center (1075).

Advisory to Airports/Railway stations/Ports/Bus Stations

1. Suitable announcements about Covid-19 and Covid appropriate behaviour shall be made at airports/railway stations/ports/bus terminals. Such announcements may include precautionary measures to be followed.
2. All passengers shall undergo thermal screening at the point of departure and only asymptomatic passengers are allowed to board the flight/train/ship/bus.
3. During boarding, all passengers shall use face covers/masks. They will also follow physical distancing, hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene (such as covering the mouth with elbow while coughing).
4. Suitable arrangements for ensuring the availability of masks and hand sanitizers shall also be made at the Terminal.
5. At airports/railway stations/ports/bus terminals required measures to ensure physical distancing shall be taken.
6. Proper provisioning for disposal of used masks, face shields, gloves etc. by passengers in covered bins shall be made at the airports/railway stations/ports/bus stations. Their disposal shall be under the guidelines issued by Central Pollution Control Board.
7. Airports/railway stations/ports/bus terminals should be regularly sanitized/disinfected, and the availability of soaps and sanitizers shall be ensured.
8. Thermal screening at exit points shall be arranged.
9. Asymptomatic passengers will be permitted to go with the advice that they shall self-monitor their health for 14 days
10. In case, passengers are detected with symptoms, there shall be an isolation room/holding area (with working oxygen facility with trained personnel) at the Terminals where such patients shall be kept and monitored till they are transferred to an appropriate health facility. For such purposes airport/railway station/ports/bus stations authorities shall provide for requisite PPEs, pulse oximeter, thermometer etc. and trained personnel to attend to these patients.

Advisory to be followed by Airlines/Railways/Ship/Bus operators and during travel

1. Passengers wearing masks/ face cover only shall be allowed to travel. The masks/face covers must be worn properly to cover the nose and mouth at all times.
2. The airlines/railways/ship/bus operators shall also keep a reserve of masks, face shield, handsanitizer etc. for passengers in case of non-availability/such items needs replacement.
3. There is no requirement for the usage of body coverall/apron for the passengers.
4. The staff manning the airline/railway coach/ship cabins/bus shall at all times wear masks, face shields, gloves and take other suitable precautions.
5. Suitable announcement about Covid-19 including precautionary measures to be followed shall be made in flights/trains/ships/buses.
6. Operators shall announce proper disposal of masks, gloves, face shields etc.
7. Passengers should follow hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene (such as covering the mouth with elbow while coughing) at all times.
8. Aircraft/trains/ships/buses should be regularly sanitized/disinfected, and availability of soap and water/sanitizers shall be ensured.
9. Information on Dos and Don'ts shall be provided along with tickets to the travellers by the agencies concerned.

Advisory to States/UTs

1. There shall be no restrictions on inter-State travel by air, rail, water, or road.
2. In case RT-PCR or RAT tests are required before entry in a State, as notified by the State Govt, the same must be publicized widely to maximize traveller convenience.
3. Asymptomatic persons who have been vaccinated with both doses of the Covid 19 vaccine and 15 days have passed since the administration of the second dose of the vaccine and have the final vaccination certificate issued through the COWIN portal, such persons may be exempted from the mandatory requirement of possessing a negative RTPCR report or RAT test on their entry into the State.
4. Passengers who are found symptomatic on arrival shall be subjected to a Rapid Antigen Test at the Terminal to aid early identification.
5. In the event of an unusual surge in cases in any State/UT, the States/UTs may institute appropriate public health measures promptly.
6. States may implement additional restrictions, based on local requirements.