India COVID-19 revised rules: Isolation not mandatory for foreign arrivals

Travelers travelling in India from any country testing positive would not be required to be treated in an isolation facility, according to the latest travel guidelines. They will, however, be treated/isolated in accordance with the established standard protocol, not essentially at an isolation facility.

According to the recently released guidelines for international arrivals, the new norm will come into operation on January 22, 2022, and will stay in effect until additional orders are issued. According to reports, the rest of the restrictions in the amended guidelines will remain the same. As per the existing guidelines, travelers from any countries, even those considered 'at-risk,' will be managed at an isolation facility and treated according to standard protocols.

The clause that made staying in an isolation facility necessary upon arrival has been eliminated from the recently announced revised guidelines. Those who are found to be symptomatic throughout the screening process shall be isolated immediately and transferred to a medical facility in accordance with health protocol. Contacts of those who are found positive shall be identified and managed as per protocol.

However, do note that foreign arrivals who test positive, will still have to undergo home quarantine for seven days, and even if they test negative, they will have to undergo RT-PCR test on the 8th day of arrival in India.