The Indian government has intensified its efforts to contain the spread of Coronavirus infections across the country. Boosting the efforts to tackle COVID-19 transmission, the Delhi Airport Authority recently issued updated guidelines for international passengers arriving in the national capital. According to the latest guidelines, passengers arriving in Delhi through international flights will have to undergo compulsory 7-day institutional quarantine at their own cost. This will be followed by a seven-day home quarantine to ensure the health and safety of the passengers and the public.

Passengers planning on coming to Delhi will have to sign an undertaking that they accept the obligation of quarantine before they book their flights. The undertaking will be retained by the concerned overseas mission/embassy.

“The symptomatic passengers will be isolated and sent to the containment zone next to the terminal building escorted by the respective airline officials. They will be further sent to hospital for COVID-19 checks/treatment as per government guidelines”

Moreover, passengers planning on staying in Delhi-NCR will have to undergo a mandatory primary health screening by Airport Health Officials which will include thermal temperature screening. It will be followed by a secondary screening at a Delhi government post after which the passenger will be allowed to proceed to an approved quarantine location in the national capital.

“The symptomatic passengers will be isolated and sent to the containment zone next to the terminal building escorted by the respective airline officials. They will be further sent to hospital for COVID-19 checks/treatment as per government guidelines,” the airport said in a statement.

Meanwhile, those heading to other states after arriving at the Delhi airport will be screened by health officials from their respective states inside the airport premises.

People exempted from mandatory quarantine include pregnant women, people who have suffered death in the family, those suffering from a serious illness, and parents of children below the age of 10-year-old.

With international flights suspended to contain the spread of Coronavirus, the Indian government has been facilitating only repatriation or rescue flights as of now to bring Indians stranded in foreign countries.

While few domestic flights have been resumed in the country after weeks of shut down, international flights have been banned till July 31 as of now.

According to the latest figures, more than 1.26 lakh Coronavirus-infected cases have been reported from Delhi, out of which more than 1.08 lakh people have recovered from the disease. Meanwhile, Indian researchers are reportedly making progress in developing a vaccine to tackle the virus. Human trials of indigenously developed coronavirus vaccine COVAXIN have begun in India. According to AIIMS Delhi Director Dr.RandeepGuleria, the trials will take at least three months to provide the first set of data.