BMC proposes institutional quarantine for flyers from 6 ‘ultra risk’ countries, not all

There has been no word from the Maharashtra government on its decision on the BMC proposal, and no order has been issued yet that classifies the six countries in southern Africa as ‘ultra risk’.

MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has proposed mandatory institutional quarantine of seven days for passengers arriving in Mumbai from, or with travel history to either of the six ‘ultra risk’ countries — South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Eswatini.

Several countries have already barred passengers from the six countries, proposed to be classified by BMC as ‘ultra risk’, over concerns about the new Omicron variant of Covid-19. (HT Photo/Vijay Bate)

In a letter to the Mahrashtra government on Thursday, municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal proposed that the city follow the protocols prescribed by the Government of India for passengers from other ‘at risk’ countries. This requires passengers to be tested for Covid-19 on arrival and those found negative, required to be in home quarantine for a week.

Several countries have already barred passengers from the six countries, proposed to be classified by BMC as ‘ultra risk’, over concerns about the new Omicron variant of Covid-19. There has been no word from the state government on its decision on the BMC proposal, and no order has been issued yet that classifies the six countries as ‘ultra risk’.

In his letter, Iqbal Singh Chahal suggested that airlines should de-board passengers from ‘ultra risk’ countries on priority, and the airport should have separate counters for verification and checking for them.

BMC’s proposal also requires mandatory institutional quarantine for seven days for passengers with travel history to the six countries within the last 15 days. Any passengers who show symptoms should also be sent to mandatory institutional quarantine for seven days.

The letter further proposes that RT-PCR tests should be conducted on the day of arrival, and again after completing seven days of institutional quarantine. If tested negative, they have to go through compulsory home quarantine for seven more days. If tested positive, they will be sent to Seven Hills hospital or a dedicated private hospital.

The central government in its order dated November 30, said international passengers from ‘at-risk’ countries have to get tested at the airport on arrival, and cannot leave the premises or take a connecting flight until their test results arrive. If tested negative, these passengers have to be home quarantined for a period of seven days. They then have to retest on the 8th day of arrival in India, and if tested negative, have to self-monitor their health for seven days. If found positive in the test on the first or 8th day, these passengers will be taken to an isolation facility.

The BMC letter also proposed that domestic passengers arriving from another state to Mumbai have to be double vaccinated, or should carry a negative RTPCR report conducted within 72 hours of travel. An order issued on November 30 said a negative RT-PCR test 48 hours prior to entering Maharashtra was mandatory for domestic travellers. But health minister Rajesh Tope told HT on Wednesday that this requirement was being deferred.