Posted inBusiness

Airport Authority of India (AAI) issues new quarantine guidelines for Goa travellers

Institutional Quarantine will be mandatory for symptomatic passengers till test result is available.

by bond
Airport Authority of India (AAI) issues new quarantine guidelines for Goa travellers

The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has recently issued new quarantine guidelines for passengers travelling to Goa.  As per the new directives, all arriving passengers shall be required to go for 14 days of home quarantine or they can opt for 14 days of paid Institutional quarantine. Institutional Quarantine will be mandatory for symptomatic passengers till test result is available.

Passengers can exempt from home quarantine in below cases:

  • If a passenger is able to produce a COVID-19 negative certificate issued by ICMR recognized lab, not older than 48 hours prior to the arrival in Goa.
  • If a passenger opts for swab test upon arrivals at a cost of Rs. 2000 and agrees to remain in paid Institutional/Home Quarantine till the time test result is available.

Key guidelines for Tourist 

  • Pre-booking of accommodation (hotels registered with department of tourism) is mandatory. Proof of pre-booking for entire duration of stay will be checked at the entry points.
  • All tourists will have to undergo basic screening at the entry point. Any tourist exhibiting sickness or COVID-19 related symptoms upon arrival will be subjected to a COVID 19 test at designated testing centers/hospitals at the tourist’s cost.
  • The Authorities will check (a) if the booking was made with any registered accommodation unit with department of tourism and is permitted to operate and (b) validity of booking for entire duration of stay.

Subsequently the tourist will be subjected to the following safety protocols :

  • In case the tourist is carrying a COVID 19 Negative Certificate, they will be allowed to move to booked accommodations. – In case a tourist is not carrying a valid COVID 19 Negative Certificate, then he/she will be directed to undergo testing for COVID 19 at designated testing centers/hospitals.
  • Thereafter, they will have to go into self-isolation till the results are received. The isolation facilities will be provided by the accommodation units themselves, where the tourist made a pre-booking. Once results are received, only and if found COVID 19 Negative, the tourist shall be allowed to travel outside the isolation facility. In case any tourist is found COVID 19 positive, the accommodation unit will act as per the extant protocol issued by the state health department. All costs for COVID 19 test including the stay at the isolation /quarantine facilities shall be borne by the tourists themselves.
  • If the tourist intends to change their original booking during their period of stay in Goa. Such changes are allowed only with permitted accommodation units by department of tourism. The tourist needs to show the proof of re-booking, if any, to the Rapid Response leader of the accommodation unit before they can shift from original accommodation.
  • Tourist shall be required to fill out a self declaration form in the format provided at the accommodation unit for the purpose of contact tracing ( if necessary ).
  • Passengers will have to certify the status of their health through the Aarogya Setu mobile app or a self-declaration form.