Quarantine rules in Mumbai for passengers arriving from UK — here’s all you need to know

• The Indian government has suspended all flights from the United Kingdom as reports emerged of a new strain of COVID-19 in the UK, termed as a "super spreader".
• The new guidelines in Mumbai require mandatory quarantine for all passengers arriving directly or indirectly from the UK.
• According to the Maharashtra government, there won’t be any tests at the airport. A COVID test will be done during the quarantine period. Additionally, the passengers will have to bear the costs of the tests.
• The updated quarantine guidelines came into effect on December 21.

Mumbai has updated its quarantine guidelines for people travelling directly or indirectly from the UK.

This comes after the Indian government suspended all flights from the United Kingdom as concerns over a new strain of COVID-19, termed as a "super spreader" emerged in the UK.

Having come into force from December 21, the new guidelines in Mumbai require mandatory quarantine for all passengers arriving directly or indirectly from the UK. The passengers will have to bear the cost of the hotel by themselves.

While the Ministry of Civil Aviation has said that passengers arriving from the UK in transit flights that will reach India before December 22, will have to take mandatory RT PCR tests on arrival, the Maharashtra government has said while there won’t be any tests at the airport, a COVID test will be done during the quarantine period. Additionally, the passengers will have to bear the costs of the tests.

Here’s how the quarantine period will play out

• If a person is symptomatic on arrival, they will be sent to Mumbai’s Seven Hills Hospital for further evaluation and treatment.
• If a person tests positive during the quarantine period, they will have to quarantine in the same hotel or a COVID-19 hospital for 14 days.
• If a passenger tests negative during the quarantine, they will still have to do a mandatory 7 day home quarantine after finishing institutional quarantine for 5 to 7 days.
  

Additionally, to ensure everyone follows the quarantine rules – the passports of all the passengers will be deposited with the hotel and returned at the time of discharge from the hotel quarantine, said the government order.

All passengers arriving at the Mumbai airport from the UK will have to follow these rules, regardless of their further travel plans.