Travelling from UK to Mumbai? Here are the new guidelines imposed by BMC

With new coronavirus strains being identified in the United Kingdom, the Government of India (GoI) has taken strict actions to ensure safety at all times. Keeping this in mind, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has decided to suspend all flights from India-UK flights, and all flights connecting the United Kingdom will be cancelled from December 23, 2020.

The decision was taken based on the current situation reported in the UK and the government there is focusing towards imposing another lockdown, keeping the upcoming festivals of Christmas and New Year in mind. Similar decisions have been taken by other nations like Belgium, Canada, Columbia, France, Germany Iran, Italy, and many others, where strict rules have bee drafted for passengers travelling from the UK.

However, as per current rules, all flights from India to any location in the UK will be suspended from IST 11.59 pm on December 22, 2020, and will remain effective until the same time on December 31, 2020.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation also took to Twitter to share the same, with a message that said, “Considering the prevailing situation in UK. Govt. of India has decided that all flights originating from the UK to India to be suspended till 31st December 2020 (23.59 hours). This suspension to start w.e.f. 23.59 hours, 22nd December 2020. Consequently, flights from India to the UK shall stand temporarily suspended during the above said period.  As a measure of abundant precaution, passengers arriving from the UK in all  transit flights (flights that have taken off or flights which are reaching India before 22nd Dec at 23.59 hrs) should be subject to mandatory RT-PCR test on arrival at the airports concerned." 

Considering the prevailing situation in UK. Govt. of India has decided that all flights originating from UK to India to be suspended till 31st December 2020 (23.59 hours).

— MoCA_GoI (@MoCA_GoI) December 21, 2020

This suspension to start w.e.f. 23.59 hours, 22nd December 2020. Consequently flights from India to UK shall stand temporarily suspended during above said period.

— MoCA_GoI (@MoCA_GoI) December 21, 2020

As a measure of abundant precaution, passengers arriving from UK in all transit flights (flights that have taken off or flights which are reaching India before 22nd Dec at 23.59 hrs) should be subject to mandatory RT-PCR test on arrival at the airports concerned.

— MoCA_GoI (@MoCA_GoI) December 21, 2020

Following the directives from the Centre, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), on Monday, December 21,  released a new set of orders and travel guidelines for all passengers arriving in Mumbai from the UK, under which, they will have to follow the mandatory quarantine protocol.

The circular released by the BMC mentioned that a distinct Phylogenetic cluster of SARs-CoV-2 named lineage 8.1.1.7 was detected in the UK and has been spreading rapidly, due to which the cases have been on a rise. With an aim to curb the spread, all the flights have been cancelled by the Government of India, and directives have been issued under Epidemic Disease Act, 1897 and The Disaster Management Act, 2005. As per rules, these will have to be followed strictly across all airports, including the Mumbai International Airport (CSIA).

Here's what passengers will have to follow if they are travelling from the UK to Mumbai, India:

• Passengers landing in Mumbai from the UK, either through direct or indirect flights, will have to follow the mandatory institutional quarantine protocol for seven days, at hotels suggested near the airport. 
• Passengers who test positive on arrival, with symptoms, will immediately be shifted to Andheri-based Seven Hills Hospital for treatment.
• No RT-PCR test will be conducted on arrival, but the passenger will be tested for the same between 5th and 7th day at the hotels, the cost of which will have to be paid by them. The passenger will only be discharged if found negative after five to seven days, post which they have to follow a seven days mandatory home quarantine protocol.
• If found positive, but asymptomatic, then the passenger will have to continue quarantine for 14 days at the same hotel or a COVID-19 hospital
• The government will make arrangements of 800 rooms and BEST services for their transfer the airport to the hotels. Passengers will have to pay for the hotels they choose upon their convenience.
• Passengers will have to deposit their passports at the hotel and can collect the same during the discharge from the hotel
• Immigration officers and staff working at the airports to be given PPE kits for safety.
• Private labs and quarantine hotels to be linked for testing and the cost of which will have to be borne by the passengers
• Monitoring of passengers will be followed at all times, and collector MSD will be assigned the operation duties
• All passengers arriving from the UK will have to follow the guidelines irrespective of their journey ahead and other travel plans.

Records state that over 1,000 passengers are expected to arrive in Mumbai from the UK, on December 22, 2020.

To ensure further safety during these times, the BMC has imposed a strict night curfew from 11 pm to 6 am whereby no more than five people can gather at a place. All services except essential will remain shut. Directives for the same were given by the Maharashtra Government on Monday, December 21, 2020.