Combating coronavirus: Returning Indians to pay for air travel, quarantine facilities

Stranded Indians returning home are to bear the cost of travel as well as the price for staying in a government-arranged 14-day quarantine facility, the Government of India announced on Tuesday. Furthermore, they should test negative for the Covid-19 coronavirus.
All stranded Indian citizens returning home have to undergo a mandatory 14-day institutional quarantine upon arrival in India, at their own cost, according to a standard operating procedure (SOP) document released by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The cost of travel, as specified by Civil Aviation Ministry will be borne by travellers. "At the time of boarding the flight, MoCA will ensure all travellers undergo thermal screening. Only asymptomatic travellers will be allowed to board," said the Ministry of Home Afffairs.
The final ticket prices are yet to be announced by the Indian government, but a senior Kerala state minister said flights from the UAE to Kerala are likely to cost around Dh750. The first repatriation flight from Dubai to Kozhikode, Kerala, will be priced at Dh725, said an Air India official. However, the cost of staying at quarantine facilities in other states across the country are yet to be revealed.
Though the status of other states in India remains unknown, the government of Kerala has confirmed it would bear the cost of keeping returning Indians in government- arranged quarantine facilities, KT Jaleel, a minister in Kerala's LDF-led government told Khaleej Times on Tuesday.
'Vande Bharat Mission' to commence on May 7
On May 7, India will begin 'Vande Bharat Mission', what is believed to be the biggest repatriation mission in the country's history to bring home citizens stranded abroad amid the coronavirus pandemic.
India will begin the phased repatriation mission from May 7 to 13 with 64 flights that will bring back approximately 14,800 citizens from 12 countries including UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Philippines, Singapore, UK, Bangladesh, Singapore, USA and Oman.
Out of 64 flights to bring back stranded Indians from abroad, 15 will land in Kerala, and 11 from nine countries will land in Tamil Nadu, Indian Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced on Tuesday.
SOP for returning Indians
All travellers will also have to give a written undertaking that they are travelling at their own risk, according to a standard operating procedure (SOP) for movement of Indian nationals stranded outside the country released by the Government of India Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on May 5.
Travellers would also have to provide a written undertaking that they would undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival in India, according to the SOP.

The MHA mandates there will be mandatory quarantine for all Indian nationals being evacuated from abroad. Thermal screening will be done at the airports. All passengers shall be asked to download the Arogya Setu app on their mobile devices. Those found to be symptomatic during screening will be taken to a medical facility as per health protocol.

The remaining passengers will be taken to suitable institutional quarantine facilities, to be arranged by respective state/ UT governments. These facilities may be as far as possible, in the district headquarters, of the district to which the arriving passenger belongs.

"Passengers will be kept under institutional quarantine for a minimum of 14 days. If they test negative after 14 days, they will be allowed to go home and will undertake self-monitoring of their health for 14 more days as per protocol," said the MHA. Remaining passengers will be shifted to a medical facility.

Furthermore, the cost of travel, as specified by Civil Aviation Ministry will be borne by travellers. "At the time of boarding the flight, MoCA will ensure all travellers undergo thermal screening. Only asymptomatic travellers will be allowed to board," said the MHA.

Indians in the UAE wishing to travel must register themselves with the Indian missions, along with necessary details as prescribed with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Registration details of all travellers will be shared with the state governments/ union territories well in advance, including place of residence and the place of final destination.

Priority will be given to compelling cases in distress, including migrant workers and labourers who have been laid off, short-term visa holders faced with the expiry of visas, persons with medical emergencies including pregnant women and elderly persons. Priority will also be given to students and those who have suffered a death in their family.

All passengers will travel to India by non-scheduled commercial flights to be arranged by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA); and naval ships to be arranged by the Department of Military Affairs (DMA). Only those staff and crew who have been tested negative will be allowed to operate the flights/ ships said the circular.

The Ministry of External Affairs will display, with at least two days' notice, the schedule - day, place, and time of arrival - of the incoming ship/ flight, on their digital platform.

A self-declaration form (with health and personal details) in duplicate will be filled well in advance by passengers coming in from any point of entry - land, sea, or airports, and a copy of the form will be given to the Health and Immigration officers present at the airport/ seaport.

Wearing of masks is mandatory while on flights, said the MHA. Health protocols issued by the MoCA and DMA must be strictly adhered to. "Respiratory hygiene, environmental hygiene must be observed by all airline/ ship crew and passengers," said the MHA.
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com