India Travel Alerts - What You Should Know Before Your Trip!

The New Normal: Travel Requirements Across India

Hardly anybody’s life has been the same since 2020. Almost two years have passed since Coronavirus wreaked havoc upon all of us, restricting everyday activities that we took for granted. As we complete another year under, whether you are returning to India from abroad or visiting another state for a fun gathering, there are some revised guidelines to keep in mind. Here are some travel alerts by different Indian states to ensure your safety:

Delhi

All the travellers coming to India from other countries need to submit a self-declaration form through the mentioned 'Air Suvidha' portal online. This self-declaration will include their travel details from the previous 14 days. Other than this, a negative RT- PCR test report for COVID-19 is mandatory.

Maharashtra

Similar to Delhi, all international passengers must provide their travel history of the past 15 days before boarding their flights. RT-PCR tests and institutional quarantine is required too, including those on connecting flights. Domestic travellers need to be fully vaccinated in order to travel; else they must provide a negative RT-PCR test report not older than 48 hours before travelling.

Karnataka

RT-PCR test is mandatory for all international passengers upon arriving in Karnataka. Symptomatic or those tested positive must undergo quarantine and home testing on their 5th day. However, those texting negatively must also quarantine at home for seven days. Asymptomatic passengers will be tested on the seventh day and will be treated separately if the tests are positive.

Jammu and Kashmir

Those coming from abroad will need to undergo an RT-PCR test at the airport, followed by a home quarantine for everyone for the next seven days. There will be another test on the eighth day and one must observe strict home quarantine for another week.

Uttarakhand

All travellers entering the state must undergo mandatory COVID-19 tests. Those tested positive or symptomatic must be quarantined for 14 days. Random testing will be conducted at the state's border and all the samples will be sent for genome sequencing.

Goa

There will be several guidelines for both international and domestic travellers visiting. Other than thermal screening, a self-declaration form needs to be filled online. Overseas passengers need to submit test samples and pay for the COVID-19 tests and await results at the airport. Those with negative reports need to be home quarantined for seven days and take another test on the eighth day.

Arrivals from at-risk nations testing positive will be taken to an isolation facility. Random testing will be carried out at arrivals from other countries. However, children below 5 years of age are exempted from this unless they are symptomatic. All domestic travellers need to provide a negative COVID test report. Travellers from Kerala will need to home quarantine for 5 days apart from providing a negative test report. All the asymptomatic and fully vaccinated domestic travellers must carry proof of vaccination.

Omicron Scare: Travelling in India Safely During the Pandemic

With many of us constrained inside our homes, mass vaccination programmes throughout the country have made it possible for us to step out of our homes and travel again.

However, being vaccinated is not the only requirement you need to meet before starting your journey. Make sure you follow all of these precautions while you’re on a trip:

• If you couldn't get vaccinated due to some reason, ensure that you get it done now. Not only will it provide you with necessary resistance but also meet the travelling requirements in several Indian states as well as countries abroad.
• If travelling by air, web check in has been made mandatory for all the passengers.
• Because of the new variant of concern, not just countries but several state governments of India have laid out strict guidelines for outsiders entering their region. Many of these require mandatory negative RT PCR test reports including Andaman & Nicobar, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. Thus it is important to stay up to date with the latest travel and entry requirements before planning a trip.
• Several states require tourists to have the Arogya Setu application installed on their mobile phones. Don’t forget to confirm this as per your destination’s entry requirements.
• Omicron's speedy spread has been the reason for concern for various nations and must be taken seriously. To curb the spread, it is important to wear face masks covering your nose and mouth. If possible, double up!
• Going out should be avoided, especially in public places with a lot of crowds. Whenever stepping out, maintain social distancing at all costs. Air-conditioned places must be avoided too, as it has a higher risk of spread. Well-ventilated areas or open parks are the safest places to be in if going out is required.
• Hygiene and COVID-19 appropriate lifestyle must be followed. Hand sanitisers are very important so that you can minimize the spread of infection. Don't forget to wash your hands frequently if you don't have a sanitiser!
• Finally, it is strongly recommended that you invest some money to buy a suitable travel insurance planfor your trip so that any last-minute contingencies like trip cancellation, flight delays or medical emergencies don’t cost you anything extra.

Due to unpredictable times, having appropriate travel insurance will be a lifesaver. Nowadays there are many types of insurance plans offering coverage for COVID-19. If you’re a student visiting India, then make sure to have a valid student travel insurance policy covering COVID-19 related expenses so that your trip is not ruined because of the extra expenses.

Wrapping it up,

While the threat of the new variant is already causing alarm among people, it is your responsibility to minimise exposure and take necessary precautions if you must head on a journey. So make sure you are vaccinated and follow all the safety guidelines all the time. This will not only keep you safe but also prevent the spread to/from other people.