Here's What You Need to Know About The Omicron Variant And How it Affects Travel Plans

On November 26, India has announced the resumption of scheduled international commercial flights from December 15. However, amid fear of the Omicron covid variant spreading to many countries, India has revised the guidelines for international travellers arriving in India. The latest guidelines for people travelling from or transiting through ‘at-risk’ countries are already in place and will be followed from December 1, 2021.

What is Omicron Variant

The B.1.1.529 variant (Omicron) was first reported from South Africa on November 24. It has been classified as a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in view of a large number of mutations noted in the variant.

Which are the ‘At-Risk’ Countries

There are 12 ‘at-risk countries’ where the Omicron variant has already started to spread. This list includes countries in Europe including the UK and South Africa, Botswana, Israel, Hong Kong, Brazil, Bangladesh, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Singapore, and Zimbabwe.

New Travel Guidelines for International Flyers

The revised guidelines require all travellers (irrespective of COVID-19 vaccination status) coming to India from countries identified as ‘countries at risk to mandatorily undergo post-arrival COVID-19 RT-PCR test at the airport on arrival in addition to pre-departure COVID-19 testing undertaken 72 hours before the departure.

Precautionary Measures Undertaken by Indian States

Alert to the looming threat, states began to the re-tighten curb and urgently trace people who arrived from abroad especially 'at risk' nations in the last one month. Citing the high number of Covid cases in Kerala, Karnataka has ordered precautionary measures in Dakshina Kannada, Madikeri, Chamarajanagar, and Mysuru districts bordering Kerala. People coming from Kerala to Karnataka will be let in only after they test negative for Covid-19. They should have taken two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

In Madhya Pradesh, all the people who arrived in the state from international destinations have in past one month will have to undergo a COVID-19 test.

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