India Institutes Innovative Airport Screening to Detect SARS-CoV-2

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in India recently announced it was implementing a comprehensive screening policy for people arriving via airlines.

The new 'Guidelines for International Arrivals' were revised in light of the increasing trajectory of COVID-19 cases in some countries worldwide.

Announced on December 22, 2022, the latest guidelines for airline passengers arriving at Indian airports include, but are not limited to, the following:

• RT-PCR testing for people arriving from China, South Korea, Japan, and Thailand. If found symptomatic or positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, they will be quarantined.
• All arriving passengers will undergo a mandatory thermal screening. Anyone found symptomatic will be isolated and taken to a designated medical facility.
• And 2% of all passengers will be randomly selected for COVID-19 tested on arrival.
• Children under 12 years of age are exempted from post-arrival random testing. However, if found symptomatic, they shall undergo testing and be treated per protocol.

These Guidelines for International Arrivals replace India's November 2022 policy.