Govt to review plans to resume int’l flights
NEW DELHI: The government on Sunday decided to review the decision on resuming scheduled commercial international passenger services as well SOP on testing and surveillance of incoming passengers, especially from countries identified as ‘at risk, in the wake of the emergence of the new Covid-19 variant of concern ‘Omicron’.
The decisions were taken at an urgent meeting chaired by Union home secretary Ajay Bhalla and attended by various stakeholders, an official spokesperson said.
“Various preventive measures in place and to be further strengthened were discussed. Further, the decision on the effective date of resumption of scheduled commercial international passengers service will be reviewed, as per evolving global scenario,” said a Home Ministry statement.
According to the ministry of Home Affairs, genomic surveillance for variants is to be further strengthened and intensified. “Airport Health Officials (APHOs) and Port Health Officials (PHOs) will be sensitized for strict supervision of testing protocol at airports and ports.”
After a long hiatus of more than 20 months, the government had on November 26 announced the resumption of scheduled international commercial flights from December 15.
The home ministry spokesperson said at the meeting, chaired by the home secretary, the overall global situation in the wake of the Omicron virus was comprehensively reviewed and various preventive measures in place and to be further strengthened were discussed.
The government will review the decision on the effective date of resumption of scheduled commercial international passenger services as per evolving global scenario, the spokesperson said.
The new, potentially more contagious B.1.1.529 variant was first reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) from South Africa on November 24 and has also been identified in Botswana, Belgium, Hong Kong and Israel.
It was on Friday designated as a “Variant of Concern” by the WHO, which named it Omicron. A variant of concern is the WHO’s top category of worrying Covid-19 variants.
“Government to review Standard Operating Procedure on testing and surveillance of incoming international passengers, especially for those countries identified ‘at risk’ category,” the spokesperson said in a series of tweets.
A closer watch on the emerging pandemic situation within the country will be maintained, the spokesperson said.
The meeting was held with various experts including V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, Vijay Raghavan, principal scientific advisor to prime minister, senior officers from health, civil aviation and other ministries. The meeting was held a day after a high-level review by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the new Covid-19 variant of concern ‘Omicron’.
As per an official statement issued by Prime Minister Office, officials briefed the prime minister about the new Variant of Concern ‘Omicron’ along with its characteristics and the impact seen in various countries.
Its implications for India were also discussed. Prime Minister Modi spoke about the need to be proactive in light of the new variant.
He highlighted the need for monitoring all international arrivals, their testing as per guidelines, with a specific focus on countries identified ‘at risk’. Prime Minister also asked officials to review plans for easing international travel restrictions in light of the emerging new evidence.
The government had decided to resume scheduled regular international flights from December 15, nearly 20 months after these flights were suspended to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had suspended operations of scheduled international commercial passenger services to and from India with effect from March 23, 2020, due to Covid-19.
“The matters of resumption of scheduled commercial international passenger services to/ from India has been examined in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and it has been decided that scheduled commercial international passenger services to/from India may be resumed from 15.12.2021,” the civil aviation ministry said on Friday.
For the resumptions of flights, the countries have been categorized into three categories with separate capacity restrictions. The categorization was done on the COVID-19 situation in the country.
Flights to and from the countries which were identified by the Ministry of Health as not “at-risk” will have full capacity entitlements as per bilateral air service agreements.