NEW DELHI: From August 8 onwards, people flying into India can seek exemption from institutional quarantine if they come with a corona-negative report.
According to the fresh guidelines issued on Sunday by the Union health ministry, the test should have been conducted within 96 hours of undertaking the journey. Passengers submitting false or forged medical reports will be prosecuted.
Also, those coming to India for “compelling reasons/cases of human distress such as pregnancy, death in family, serious illness and parent(s) with children of the age of 10 years or below” from August 8 onwards can seek home quarantine for 14 days, instead of seven-day paid institutional quarantine and seven-day home quarantine.

“If they wish to seek such exemption, they shall [have to] apply on www.newdelhiairport.in at least 72 hours before boarding. The decision taken by the government as communicated on the online portal will be final,” say the guidelines that will come into effect from 12.01am on August 8.
For travellers coming with a corona-negative test report, the guidelines say: “The [RT-PCR] test report should be uploaded on the portal for consideration… The test report could also be produced upon arrival at the point of entry airport in India.”
Before boarding the aircraft to India, “All passengers are advised to download the Arogya Setu app on their mobile devices. At the time of boarding the flight/ship, only asymptomatic travellers will be allowed to board after thermal screening. Passengers arriving through land borders will also have to undergo the same protocol as above…”
On arrival, a symptomatic passenger shall be immediately isolated and taken to a medical facility. “Post thermal screening, the passengers who have been exempted from institutional quarantine will show the same to the respective state counters on their cell phones/other mode before being allowed home quarantine for 14 days,” the guidelines say.
Other passengers shall be taken to suitable institutional quarantine facilities, to be arranged by the respective state/UT governments, for being kept there at least for seven days. States can develop their own protocol with regards to quarantine and isolation as per their assessment post arrival of passengers in the state concerned, the guidelines said.