Lok Sabha Question No. 64 (STARRED), answered on 2021-12-02
Subject: Air-Bubbles
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Kotagiri Sridhar, Chinta Anuradha

*64,

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL A VIATION LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 64 (To be answered on the December 2021) 2nd

## AIR-BUBBLES

## SHRI SRIDHAR KOTAGIRI SHRIMATI CHINTA ANURADHA

## Will the Minister Of CIVIL AVIATION

Minister 0f CIVIL AVIATION

(a) to (d) A Statement is laid on the table of the House

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government has taken to establish exclusive air-links with other countries with the objective of restarting international or Air-Bubbles the details thereof; passenger services and if steps SC,
- conditions and if $0, the details thereof;
- whether the Government is aware of the cases of increasing COVID-19 outbreaks in UK and European Countries; and
- d) if the taken by Government to prevent the further through the aviation sector? spreading of the pandemic steps

## ANSWER

(Shri Jyotiraditya M: Scindia)

Statement referred to in the reply to parts (a) to (d) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No: 64 regarding Air Bubbles" to be answered on 02.12.2021

- (a) and (b) During Covid-19 pandemic when scheduled commercial international passenger services were restricted; the Government facilitated the international travel of passengers in a bubble arrangements have been formalized with 31 countries. These air travel bubble arrangements provide directlindirect connectivity to more than 100 countries around the world.

The Government formalizes new air travel bubble arrangements after taking into consideration the Covid-19 situation; the market demand and assessment of risk factor with the concerned country after taking concurrence of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW): However, there are countries which have not formalized air travel bubble arrangements with India: yet

Recognizing the increased vaccination coverage across the globe and the changing nature of the pandemic and considering the health protocols which have been in place for international arrivals, the Government decided to resume scheduled commercial international declared 'at risk' by MoHFW. put

However, in view of the evolving global scenario with the emergence of new variants of concern; the situation is being closely monitored and reviewed in consultation with other Ministries, with regard to taking any further decision on this issue.

- (c) and (d) The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued guidelines for international arrivals on 28.11.2021 which refers to a list of countries 'at-risk' . This list of countries is available on their website (mohfw govin) and includes UK and European countries. The guidelines for travellers from countries at- risk' includes, inter alia, as under:
- ii) If tested negative will follow, home quarantine for 7 days, re-test 0n the Sth day of they
- i) Submission of sample for post-arrival COVID-19 test at the of arrival; Such travellers will be required to wait for their test results at the arrival airport before leaving 0r taking a connecting flight point
- arrival in India and if negative, further self-monitor 0f their health for nert 7 days iii) If such travellers are tested positive; their samples should be sent for genomic testing at INSACOG laboratory network They shall be managed at separate isolation facility and treated as per laid down standard protocol including contact tracing The contacts of such positive case should be kept under institutional quarantine 0r at home quarantine and monitored strictly by the concerned State Government as per laid down protocol:

Travellers from countries excluding those enlisted by MoHFW as countries 'at-risk' will be allowed to leave the airport and shall self-monitor their health for 14 days post arrival A subsection (5% of the total flight passengers) shall undergo post-arrival testing at random at the airport on arrival If found positive, shall be managed as per laid down standard protocol and samples would further send for genomic testing; they