TN govt implements strict guidelines for air passengers
by NT Bureau
Chennai: As the flight operations resumed in Chennai today after two months, the guidelines issued by the government said all domestic air travellers coming into Tamilnadu should register themselves in TNePass portal and (if asymptomatic) should undergo 14 day home quarantine.
It said to facilitate the entry of domestic air travellers flying into to Tamilnadu from various States, it was made mandatory for all them after getting their tickets to register their details online in TNePass Portal with a declaration that I/We are not from containment zone, not suffering from fever, not under quarantine, not tested COVID-19 positive for the last two months and that if any symptoms developed will contact the health authorities.
“The travellers should also decare that if I/We understand that if I/We undertake the air journey on false information, without meeting the eligibility criteria, I/We would be liable to penal action. I/We undertake to adhere to the health protocol and quarantine norms prescribed by the TN Government”, the SOP said.
If more than one person travels in a group, the details of all persons should be entered using the ‘add family member’ option in the TNePass Portal after which travel permit will be issued with a QR Code in the registered mobile number/e-mail.
The Airline staff would insist the details of entry pass obtained from TNe-pass before issuing the boarding pass and separate request has been made to the airlines and operators on this.
It said travellers could use their own vehicle or rented vehicle for travel from airport to their home and the vehicle number must be indicated in the portal.
Travellers on arrival in Tamilnadu airport should show the details of registration in the TN e-Pass registration desk at the airport and passengers without entry in TN ePass will not be permitted to move out without making entry.
District Collectors should make available necessary infrastructure in the exit gates of airports to check and take followup action on this.
After undergoing medical screening for any symptoms of COVID-19, asymptomatic persons should undergo home quarantine for 14 days.
Travellers who register for institutional quarantine would be sent for institutional quarantine (Government or Paid facility) and all those entering the State should be under home quarantine for 14 days from the date of arrival.
However, if the individual does not have home quarantine facilities, he/she will be sent to institutional quarantine and it should be indicated in the TNePass portal.
Pick up vehicles for arriving passengers will be permitted to enter airport with one person (excluding driver of the vehicle) at a designated place subject to social distancing norms.
If the persons who pick up the passenger comes in to physical contact with the traveller, they should also be under Home quarantine for 14 days.
The SOP said the facilities and guidelines mandated by the Civil Aviation Ministry should be ensured at the airports. This included temperature checking with Infra red thermometer, proper Queue system to reach the desks, disinfectment of all luggages, use of PPEs, face masks and protective gear by the officials who directly deal with passengers, sending all symptomatic passengers to isolation facilities in designated ambulances, posting of staff exclusively posted or a period of two weeks for airport surveillance and they must undergo two weeks home quarantine upon finishing duties, any COVID 19 related symptoms in health staff must be promptly reported to state and they must be tested with RT PCR, besides Wheel Chair facility for the needy.
For those travellers going out of Tamilnadu, they should undergo medical screening as stipulated by Airport Authority and persons with symptoms will be sent to health facility for testing and treatment. Only asymptomatic persons will be allowed to board the flight.