New Delhi (NVI): The Ministry of Home Affairs today said that the Indian government will facilitate the return of Indian nationals stranded abroad amid the coronavirus pandemic, in a phased manner from May 7.
“Government of India will be facilitating the return of Indian nationals stranded abroad on compelling grounds in a phased manner,” the MHA said in a statement while adding that the travel would be arranged by aircraft and naval ships.
The Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) has been prepared in this regard, it said.
The Home Ministry said that Indian Embassies and High Commissions are preparing a list of distressed Indian citizens. “This facility would be made available on payment-basis. Non-scheduled commercial flights would be arranged for air travel. The travel would begin in a phased manner from May 7,” the MHA statement read.
Proper safety measures will be in place and medical screening of passengers would be done before taking the flight. Only asymptomatic passengers would be allowed to travel, the ministry said. During the journey, all these passengers would have to follow the protocols, such as the Health Protocols, issued by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, it said.
MHA further stated that on reaching the destination, everyone would have to register on the Arogya Setu app. The app was
launched by Centre on April 1 to track down the increasing coronavirus cases across the country.
Everyone would be medically screened and after scrutiny, they would be quarantined for 14 days, either in a hospital or in an institutional quarantine on payment-basis, by the concerned State government, the ministry added. After 14 days of essential quarantine, COVID test would be done and further action would be taken according to health protocols, it said.
In this regard, State governments are being advised to make arrangements, including for testing, quarantine and onward movement of the returning Indians, the ministry informed.
