Restrictions on Travel Imposed by the Indian Government on Account of COVID-19
The Ministry of Health and Welfare
issued a Standard Operating Practice (SOP) for airport screening of COVID-19 based
on a categorization of passengers coming into India from China, Democratic
Republic of Korea, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Iran”.
The SOP classifies passengers into
three risk categories:
(i) Category A (High Risk): A passenger with fever, cough, shortness of breath, with a
history of travel to, or residence in, a country/area or territory reporting
local transmission of COVID-19 disease during the 14 days prior to symptom
onset; or a patient with any acute respiratory illness who has also been in
contact with a COVID-19 patient in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms
(ii) Category B (Moderate Risk): An asymptomatic passenger coming from China, the Democratic
Republic of Korea, France Germany, Spain, Italy, Iran who is also elderly
(above 60 years of age) hypertensive, diabetic, and/or asthmatic
(iii) Category C (Low Risk): An asymptomatic passenger coming from any COVID-19
affected country, including passengers coming from China, Democratic Republic
of Korea, France Germany, Spain, Italy, and Iran.
The Government of India has taken
several measures with respect to cross-border passengers travelling to or from India,
in order to contain the spread of the disease. All the detailed measures along
with FAQs can be accessed at http://tourism.gov.in/covid-19-travel-advisory
The Ministry of Home Affairs also
issued various visa restrictions. As of 13 March 2020, all visas except a few
categories (diplomats and employment visas) have been suspended till 15 April
2020.
Indian nationals who wish to return
to India will be quarantined for 14 days if they have visited certain countries
(China, South Korea, Iran, Italy, Spain, France and Germany) on or after
February 2020. However, this does not apply to passengers who transited through
these countries. Foreigners currently in India can extend their visas to avoid
international travel. They can also leave the country and return back, but if
they wish to return before 15 April, they would require fresh visas.
All types of passenger movements through all the immigration land check posts located at India-Bangladesh border, India-Nepal border, India-Bhutan border, India-Myanmar border have been suspended until further notice. The restrictions imposed are on foreign nationals.
The Bureau of Immigration has also
issued instructions regarding visa and other general travel restrictions
to avoid unnecessary travel at this point in time. India has also banned travel
from EU and the UK to tighten its preventive measures.
(Restrictions
on travel change periodically – please refer to https://www.mohfw.gov.in/travel_ad.html
for the latest information. Also, check back in at https://allaboutcovid2020.blogspot.com/
for updates)