Omicron in India: Maharashtra amends rules for passengers from "ultra-risk" countries

Maharashtra has announced mandatory seven-day institutional quarantine for passengers arriving from South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe as per amended rules of state government.

This will also apply to passengers who visited these nations anytime within 15 days ahead of their arrival, and any passenger who is symptomatic.

After seven days, the passengers have to take an RTPCR test and if the result is negative, undergo seven days of home quarantine.


India detected its first two cases of the omicron variant on Thursday, in Karnataka.

Passengers from "at risk" nations have to follow central rules.

These passengers no longer need institutional quarantine upon arrival in Mumbai, but will undergo an RT-PCR test at the airport for which they have to pay.

If they test positive, they will be moved to a separate isolation facility. Their samples will be sent for genomic testing. If tested negative, they will follow home quarantine for seven days. A second test will be conducted on the eighth day.

Domestic passengers have to provide proof of double vaccination or negative report of an RT-PCR test conducted within 72 hours of boarding the flight.

Earlier, the state government's November 30 order had made institutional quarantine mandatory for passengers arriving from all `at risk' countries in the central government's list in view of the Omicron variant threat.