Government orders relaxation in lockdown measures to allow foreign nationals stranded in India

New Delhi: Government on Thursday ordered relaxation in lockdown measures to allow foreign nationals stranded in India and release those who came from abroad but placed under quarantine.

In a standard operating procedure (SOP), MHA said, "Requests received from foreign governments, for evacuation of their nationals from India, would be examined by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India on case to case basis."

"Prior to departure, the foreign national would be screened for COVID 19 symptoms as per the standard health protocol. Only these foreign national would be allowed to leave, who are asymptomatic for COVlD-19. In case of symptomatic person, the future course of treatment would be followed, as per the standard health protocol.


The local transportation arrangements from the place of stay of the foreign national to the point of embarkation would be arranged by the local embassy or consulate of the respective foreign government," the home ministry order stated.

It added, "The transit pass for movement of the vehicle deployed for movement of the foreign nationaus) would be issued by the Government of the State and Union Territory where the foreign nationals are staying.

The chartered flight would be arranged by the concerned foreign government in consultation with the Ministry of Civil Aviation".

For persons returning from foreign locations and under quarantine, only those testing negative for COVID 19 would be released from the said quarantine facility. However, this will not apply to a group, where even one person tests positive for COVID 19, the guidelines stated.

Officials said those release should make their own transport arrangements. "The transit pass for movement of vehicle(s), being used by such person(s), would be issued by the Government of the State/ Union Territory where they have been quarantined." The transit pass will be issued for fixed route and with specified validity and such person shall follow the same.

"As a measure of abundant caution, upon returning to their destination such persons would home quarantine themselves for a further period of 14 days as per standard protocol on the matter. Details of person released from quarantine, along with their destination, will be shared with the concerned State government for necessary follow up," MHA said.