India restarts thermal screening, random COVID tests for all international passengers

Gulf Today Report

India will conduct thermal screening at its international airports of all arriving passengers from abroad with effect from 10:00 am local time (8:30 am UAE time) from Dec. 24th.

The Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued Guidelines for International Arrivals in context of COVID-19 pandemic and updated the same from time to time.

The present guidelines are being revised in light of increasing trajectory of COVID-19 cases being noted in some countries across the world.

The ministry said these protocols to be complied by international travellers as well as points of entry at any airports, seaports and land border.

According to the statement:

Planning for Travel:

• All travellers should preferably be fully vaccinated as per the approved vaccine against COVID-19 in their country.

During Travel:

• In-flight announcement about the ongoing COV1D-19 pandemic including precautionary measures to be followed. Preferably, use facemasks and follow physical distancing at all points of entry.

• Any passenger having symptoms of COVID-19 during travel shall be isolated as per standard protocol,  that is the said passenger should be segregated from other passengers in flight/travel and shifted to an isolation facility subsequently for follow up treatment.
On arrival:

• De-boarding should be done ensuring physical distancing.

• Thermal screening should be done in respect of all the passengers by the health officials present at the point of entry.


Passengers found to be symptomatic during screening shall be immediately isolated, taken to a designated medical facility as per health protocol.

The following protocols shall also be followed:

• A sub-section (2% of the total passengers in the flight) shall undergo random post arrival testing at the airport on arrival.

• Such travellers in each flight shall be identified by the concerned airlines (preferably from different countries). They will submit the samples and shall be allowed to leave the airport thereafter.

• If such travellers' samples are tested positive, their samples should be further sent for genomic testing at INSACOG laboratory network.

• They shall be treated/isolated as per laid down standard protocol.

• All travellers should self-monitor their health post arrival also shall report to their nearest health facility or call National/ State Helpline Number in case they have any symptoms.

• Children under 12 years of age are exempted from post-arrival random testing.
However, if found symptomatic for COVID-19 on arrival or during the period of self-monitoring period, they shall undergo testing and treated as per laid down protocol.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting to assess the COVID-19 situation in the country.

"The meeting reviewed preparedness of health infrastructure and logistics, status of the vaccination campaign in the country, the emergence of new COVID-19 variants and their public health implications for the country,” an official readout of the meeting said. "This high-level review meeting comes in the backdrop of a spike in COVID-19 cases in some countries.”