May 28, 2020
A spokesperson of the State Government informed here that Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) for movement of travellers by domestic flights and trains to Himachal Pradesh has been issued by the State Government.
He said that installing of Aarogya Setu App has been made mandatory for all individuals with Android and iOS phones before boarding the flight/trains and entering the State. The full protocol of social distancing and other guidelines issued by Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) while boarding and de-boarding must be maintained.
The travellers would be screened at the airport/railway station before they are allowed to travel to Himachal Pradesh. Arrangement for thermal screening to check ILI/flu like symptoms to be done at the entry point of the border check post/district concerned of HP. The airline ticket, valid boarding pass and confirmed train ticket would be a valid document for the movement beyond the Airport Arrival Terminals and Railway Stations to respective destination in Himachal Pradesh. No permission of State Authorities would be needed to enter the State. However, the travellers need to carry a Valid ID Card to prove his identity at the entry point in State.
The spokesperson said that arriving passengers requiring a taxi from Airport/ Railway Station to the State may only use authorized and verified taxi service providers to reach the State/travel inside the State. The Entry/Exit from State Borders would be allowed only from 7AM to 7PM. The passengers coming from Red Zone would have to mandatorily be shifted to an institutional quarantine facility earmarked by the District Administration for 14 days quarantine. Other passengers coming from Orange/Green zone would be screened before sending them for home quarantine for 14 days as per guidelines of the MoHFW. In case the individuals want to use any better quarantine facility other than designated Institutional Quarantine by the District Administration, the same may be arranged on payment basis.
He said that all persons put in institutional quarantine will have to mandatorily undergo COVID test between 6 to 10 days of the quarantine period and if found negative, can be released for further home quarantine. If the person is carrying a personal COVID test report issued by a lab authorized by ICMR, which is negative and has been issued within the last 3 days prior to the date of journey, then institutional quarantine would not be insisted and he/she can straightaway go for home quarantine. He/she will sign an undertaking to ensure self-monitoring of his/her health for 14 more days as per protocol. The persons will be shifted to the medical facility maintained by the State Government at the earliest, if found positive for COVID-19 at any stage.
All persons after leaving institutional quarantine facility are essentially required to provide their arrival information to the local Urban Local Bodies/ Panchayati Raj Institutions (ULBs/PRIs). The concerned ULB and PRI will monitor the person with the help of the local ASHA/ Health worker regularly for at least next 14 days. If the person is found to be symptomatic of ILI or COVID-19, the concerned ASHA/Health Worker will immediately report the matter to the Health Authorities. Health Authorities will immediately take the sample of the individual for COVID-19 and take further necessary action as per the outcome of the test report.
He said that all the passengers will strictly follow and ensure compliance to the general instructions/guidelines to be followed by passengers, and Specific Operating Guidelines for major stakeholders for recommencement of Domestic Flights issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India.
