Committee to ensure states follow quarantine, movement protocols

NEW DELHI: An inter-ministerial committee has been set up to ensure that states follow the guidelines on quarantining and movement of Indians returning home after being stranded abroad due to the coronavirus pandemic, officials said.

A spokesperson for the home ministry said the panel will comprise officials from the ministries of home, defence, civil aviation and health.

The committee will look into the protocols issued by the home ministry and coordinate with the state governments on quarantine facilities and surveillance of positive coronavirus cases among those returning from abroad.


Early on Friday evening, a naval ship with 700 Indians left Maldives for Kochi. It will reach by May 10, officials said.

As per the guidelines issued by the home ministry, among Indians stranded abroad, priority is being given to those in distress, including migrant workers and labourers who have been laid off, those facing visa expiry, persons with medical emergency, pregnant women and the elderly. The ministry has been asked to designate nodal officers for states and Union Territories who will coordinate with the nodal officers designated for this purpose by the respective states and UTs. “MEA (ministry of external affairs) will display, with at least two days’ notice, the schedule of the incoming flights, ships on their online digital platform,” the standard operating procedure said.