Stranded Indians will be brought home from 7th of May

Passengers to follow the health guidelines

Tuesday, 5th May 2020

From 7th of May, the stranded Indians will be brought back from different countries, in a “phased manner”, the centre said. People without any symptoms of coronavirus infection will be allowed to board, and “payment-basis” services will be provided. Naval ships and aircrafts will be arranged.

The government stated, “Government of India will be facilitating the return of Indian nationals stranded abroad on compelling grounds in a phased manner. The travel would be arranged by aircraft and naval ships. The Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) has been prepared in this regard”. It further added, “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”.

Medical screening will be conducted for the passengers. The center asserted, “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”.

All these passengers must download “Aarogya Setu” app after landing in India, said the government. “On reaching the destination, everyone would have to register on the Aarogya Setu app. Everyone would be medically screened. 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. COVID test would be done after 14 days and further action would be taken according to health protocols”.

The government suggested that the state governments should be ready for testing, quarantine and other necessary steps of the passengers.

In March many of the stranded Indians were brought back from Iran and China by the government. The operation had to be paused as the international and domestic flights were suspended as a result of skyrocketing number of Covid-19 cases all over the world. It was predicted that the operation would be continued after 3rd of May when the lockdown would be ended.  

Source: NDTV