Centre drops pre-boarding Covid tests, 'Air Suvidha' for travellers from 6 countries

From Monday (February 13), international travelers to India will not be required to submit a Covid-19 test report or upload an 'Air Suvidha' form. The rules will apply to people coming to India from China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea, Thailand and Japan, the health ministry said. However, two percent random testing will continue for international travelers at airports.

Last week, the Union Health Minister wrote to the Aviation Minister and mentioned the updated guidelines for international arrivals. "The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, as a part of its proactive yet graded public health response to Covid-19 management, has been updating 'Guidelines for International Arrivals' from time to time. In the last update, based on the increasing trajectory of Covid-19 and circulation of mutant variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in some countries, the Ministry had mandated requirements of pre-departure Covid-19 testing and uploading of Self-Health Declaration on the Ministry of Civil Aviation's 'Air Suvidha' Portal," the letter read.

"However, as has been witnessed in the last four weeks, these countries are witnessing a sustained and significant decline in the trajectory of Covid-19 cases. Further, as per World Health Organisation's latest situational update on Covid-19, a decline of 89 per cent in the number of newly confirmed cases in the past 28 days has been noted globally as compared to 28 days prior to that. Meanwhile, India has continued to witness a declining trajectory, with less than 100 new cases/day being reported. In order to monitor infections due to mutated variants of SARS-CoV-2 among international travellers to India, the present exercise of random testing of 2 per cent travellers to India (irrespective of country of origin) upon arrival in India shall continue," the letter read further. 

Meanwhile, India reported 82 new coronavirus infections while active cases declined to 1,837, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday. The death toll rose by three to 5,30,753 with Uttar Pradesh reporting two fatalities and West Bengal recording one. The daily positivity was recorded at 0.14 per cent while the weekly positivity was pegged at 0.09 per cent.