The government has removed the requirement that international passengers fill out an Air Suvidha form

Nisha November 21, 2022Last Updated: November 22, 2022

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In the last month alone, more than 75,000 international passengers have arrived at Indian airports. (File/Representational)

In response to a decline in Coronavirus cases, the government removed the requirement for people entering India from abroad to complete the Air Suvidha form.

According to a notification issued by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), the revised guidelines for international arrivals will take effect on November 22.

Before these guidelines, passengers arriving from overseas were required to complete the Air Suvidha form upon arrival in India. The Coronavirus pandemic led to the introduction of the form.

Last week, the civil aviation ministry announced that masks are not mandatory during air travel but should be worn if possible.

Following the MoHFW’s latest guidelines, air travellers should preferably be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 under their country’s approved primary vaccination schedule.

Upon arrival, the passengers should ensure that all arriving international passengers will be physically separated and thermally screened by the health officials.

Per health protocol, passengers found to be symptomatic during screening will be isolated and taken to a designated medical facility.

In addition, the ministry advised travellers to self-monitor their health after arrival. As soon as they recognise symptoms indicative of HIV infection, they should go to their “nearest health facility or call the national helpline number (1075)/state helpline number,” according to the statement.

In light of the sustained declining COVID-19 trajectory and significant improvements in vaccination coverage on both a global and Indian level, the present guidelines are being revised.

The ministry has requested that in-flight announcements regarding the ongoing pandemic, including precautionary measures, such as using masks and observing physical distances, be made during flights and travel at all points of entry.

During travel, any passenger who displays symptoms of Coronavirus should be isolated according to standard protocol, it said.

During the pandemic, scheduled domestic flight services were suspended for two months beginning on March 25, 2020. International scheduled flights, suspended on the same day, were restored only on March 27.

As of Monday, the number of COVID-19 cases totalled 4,46,69,421 in India, while the number of active instances decreased to 6,402, according to official data.

COVID-19 active cases represent 0.01 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate increased to 98.80 percent, according to the MOHFW website.