Mumbai Airport: Revised Guidelines For Passengers Arriving From UK, Middle East and Europe

Advertisement

Mumbai’s  Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) last week announced a new set of protocols for all incoming and outgoing international passengers to prevent the new strain of Covid-19 found in the UK.

As per the guidelines issued by the CSMIA institutional quarantine is mandatory for all passengers arriving from From UK, Middle East, and Europe.

“From today, 14 days institutional quarantine has been made mandatory for passengers arriving in Maharashtra from all European countries as well as Middle Eastern countries. These passengers will be subjected to RT-PCR testing on the fifth or seventh day after quarantine. They will be released home after completing their quarantine period. The Municipal Commissioners at the airports where international flights land should arrange hotels and independent hospitals for quarantining such passengers. The Chief Minister also directed to set up a separate hospital for passengers from Europe if they have symptoms of the new virus,” read a press release from the government.

“Passengers from other countries will be checked and stamped with their hands and will be home quarantined. The Chief Minister also directed to provide PPE kits to all airport staff checking passengers from European countries, Middle East countries,” the release added.

Advertisement
Press Release Issued By Maharashtra Govt Stated.

Now the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued revised guidelines for exemption from institutional quarantine in exaptational cases.

“#ImportantUpdate on the revised exemptions from institutional quarantine for passengers arriving from UK, Middle East, and Europe,” said CSMIA in a tweet.

The new Guidelines/SOPs issued by BMC stated;

Advertisement

A new Standard Operating Procedure (S.O.P.) is being implemented with regards to compulsory Institutional quarantine for the passengers arriving from the U.K., Europe, the Middle East, and South Africa. As per the policy, all the passengers arriving from these 4 destinations are compulsorily quarantined in the hotel or MCGM quarantine center.

As per the revised S.O.P., the passengers having their last destination out of Maharashtra are allowed to take connecting flight/ travel to their destination, subject to having RT PCR Negative Test Report. Further, as per the other revised guidelines, an exemption can be considered for Pregnant Women and in case of death of immediate family members.

During the implementation of the policy and handling of passengers at the Airport, it is witnessed that there are some cases such as –

  • Elderly passengers above 65 years needing support.
  • Parents accompanies children below 5 years.
  • Passengers having a serious illness and require medical attention such as cancer, physical disability, mental illness, celebral palsy.
  • Extreme family distress condition i.e. Father/Mother/Son/Daughter in critical condition.

The passengers from the above categories request an exemption from institutional quarantine at the Airport. Considering the fact that these illnesses may require special attention and hence may be considered for exemption from institutional quarantine.

Advertisement

Further, on 21st December 2020, the passengers who arrived from the U.K. were compulsorily quarantined in the hotel.

However, the passengers having their last destination out of Maharashtra like Gujrat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, etc. were allowed to travel to their last destination subject to negative RT PCR Test Report.

There are certain cases whose final destination was out of Maharashtra, however, they were quarantined in a hotel in Mumbai. These passengers are continuously requesting for allowing them to go to their last destination, subject to the latest negative RT PCR Test Report.

Considering the fact that in similar cases passengers were allowed to travel to their destination out of Maharashtra, we may consider the request of these passengers who have been quarantined in Mumbai.

Advertisement

Follow and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Google News for the latest travel news and updates!


Also Read: 489 Passengers Quarantined At Mumbai Airport Amid New Covid-19 Strain

Advertisement

Manish Khandelwal
Manish Khandelwal

Manish Khandelwal, a travel-tech enthusiast with over a decade of experience in the travel industry. Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Travelobiz.com, he's passionate about writing.

Articles: 6617