The Government of India is putting new arrival guidelines to screen passengers from various countries and keep the new Omicron variant at bay from spreading through the country. However, states can implement a much stricter version if they so deem necessary. Maharashtra has been evolving their guidelines for the Mumbai International airport, which has one of the most considerable incoming traffic from outside of the country.

For instance, Mumbai residents arriving/transiting via any UAE airport have to compulsorily home quarantine for a week. Now, new testing rules have been introduced at CSMIA Mumbai, for all international arrivals, with effect from January 2, 2022.

All international arrivals from high risk/at-risk countries at Mumbai International will be Rapid Tested

As per a new circular with guidelines for arrival at Mumbai International Airport for international flights, effective January 02, 2022, but circulated only on January 04, 2022, the state has decided that all international arrivals from certain countries will be rapid RT-PCR tested.

The countries are:

1. Countries in Europe including The United Kingdom
2. South Africa
3. Brazil
4. Botswana
5. China
6. Ghana
7. Mauritius
8. New Zealand
9. Zimbabwe
10. Tanzania
11. Hong Kong
12. Israel
13. United Arab Emirates

Here is the new process going forward.

• All international passengers arriving on flights from these countries listed above into Mumbai Airport will take the Rapid RT PCR test.
  • If found positive in Rapid RT PCR, passengers will be asked to take a regular RT PCR test.
    • For those who test positive and are symptomatic:
      • They will be admitted to the Seven Hills Hospital for treatment free of cost.
      • If they would rather be in private care and are willing to pick the tab, they will be admitted to the Bombay Hospital/Breach Candy Hospital.
    • For those who test positive and are asymptomatic:
      • They will be taken to quarantine at the BKC/Kanjurmarg Jumbo Centre free of cost.
      • If they are willing to pay for it, they can also be transferred to one of the hotels listed below
  • If found negative in RT-PCR, the passenger will be allowed to go home and quarantine for seven days.

Here is the whole order reproduced for you. It is unclear how long would one be quarantined if they are positive, but I’d believe 15 days would be the quarantine for now. I am working on getting further clarification.

Correction | All int'l pax coming from at-risk, high-risk countries & UAE has to go through rapid RTPCR or any other tests. The rest of the passengers who are fully vaccinated need not go for the test unless asked to do so by authorities: Kiran Dighavkar, AMC, G North ward, BMC pic.twitter.com/Rk7w7dWKEw

— ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2022

 

You will need to prebook a test for arrival in Mumbai; details can be seen here about how to book. The Rapid PCR Test costs INR 1975, and the regular RT PCR test costs INR 500.

Here are the designated hotels for quarantine, although this list looks too small. For instance, that Svenska hotel is tiny!

The order is awfully quiet for now on the requirements applicable for those transferring from Mumbai to other destinations inside the state and outside the state.

Bottomline

If you arrive at Mumbai Airport, you will be required to conduct a Rapid PCR test on arrival compulsorily when arriving from certain countries. Those who go positive will be reassessed with a regular PCR test for a second time. If both tests come positive, these international passengers will either be hospitalised or put in quarantine, depending on their symptoms. Others will have to serve a 7-day home quarantine compulsorily.

What do you make of the new requirements for arrivals at Mumbai Airport? 

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