On Monday evening, India’s Ministry of Health confirmed that all passengers transiting through or arriving from UAE, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar would be subject to a mandatory quarantine of a minimum period of 14 days upon their arrival in the country beginning from Wednesday, March 18.
A tweet from the ministry read: “Expanding compulsory quarantine for a minimum period of 14 days for passengers coming from/transiting through UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 18th March 2020 at the port of the first departure.
It added: “No airline shall board a passenger from these nations to India with effect from 1200 GMT on 18th March 2020. The airline shall enforce this at the port of initial departure.”
The ministry said that these directives are temporary measures and will remain in effect until March 31, 2020, after which it will be reviewed.
The new travel restrictions extend to countries beyond the GCC too. The ministry said: “Travel of passengers from member countries of the European Union, the European Free Trade Association, Turkey and the United Kingdom to India is prohibited with effect from 18th March 2020.”
