Omicron alert: Tamil Nadu’s latest rules for international flyers

With the new guidelines for arrivals from at-risk countries to India in the wake of the new COVID-19 variant Omicron, Chennai International Airport has worked to make the experience smoother for these passengers awaiting test results before they can leave the airport. An exclusive corridor at Terminal 4 is being used for the screening of passengers from at-risk countries, and the mandatory testing is now available at reduced cost. Tamil Nadu’s COVID-19 protocol states that 2% of passengers from countries marked safe by India will also be randomly selected for COVID-19 testing, though they won’t have to pay for the test.

Changes for passengers at Chennai International Airport

The Rapid PCR that was priced at Rs3,400 is now available at Rs2,900 and the RT-PCR test has been reduced from Rs700 to Rs600. Passengers are requested to book their appointment online here before arrival.

In addition, there is a new holding area for passengers from at-risk countries at Terminal 4, with a seating capacity for 450 with COVID-19 protocol in place. There are reclining chairs, food outlets and mobile food carts, baby feeding rooms, free Wi-Fi and telephones.

Reclining chairs in a new exclusive corridor for passengers arriving from at-risk countries at Chennai International Airport. @aaichnairport/Twitter

Tamil Nadu’s COVID-19 protocol for passengers from safe countries

• All passengers must fill out the self-declaration form on the Air Suvidha portal and upload a negative RT-PCR test result taken within the last 72 hours to be able to board the flight to India.
• Passengers from countries marked as safe can exit the airport and should self-monitor their health at home for the next 14 days. There will be post-arrival testing for 2% of these passengers selected at random at the airport on arrival.
• Passengers found symptomatic will be isolated and taken to a medical centre with COVID-19 treatment facilities.
• Children under five years of age remain exempted from pre- and post-arrival testing. However, if found symptomatic for COVID-19 on arrival or during home quarantine, they shall undergo testing and be treated as per protocol.

Tamil Nadu’s COVID-19 protocol for passengers from at-risk countries

1. Passengers must fill out the self-declaration form on the Air Suvidha portal and upload a negative RT-PCR test result taken within the last 72 hours to be able to board the flight to India.
2. They will also be required to pay for and take a COVID-19 test on arrival and wait for the results at the airport before leaving or taking another flight.
3. If the passenger tests negative, they will have to isolate at home for seven days and get tested again on the eighth day. Following a negative result, they will have to self-monitor their health at home for another week.
4. Those who test positive for COVID-19 will be sent to a managed isolation facility and their samples will be sent for genomic testing.
5. Passengers with a positive test result will also have their contacts traced and managed by quarantine at home or an institutional facility; this includes passengers seated three rows in front of and three rows behind the affected passenger alongside identified cabin crew.
6. The community contacts of those who have tested positive while isolating at home will also have to quarantine for 14 days and be tested for COVID-19.
7. Children under five years of age remain exempted from pre- and post-arrival testing. However, if found symptomatic for COVID-19 on arrival or during home quarantine, they shall undergo testing and be treated as per protocol.