The e-pass is also compulsory for all passengers.
In light of the increase in COVID-19 cases, Tamil Nadu’s Department of Health and Family Welfare has issued new travel guidelines for domestic and international passengers. Business travelers who come to Tamil Nadu for a short trip of 72 hours or less than three days are now exempt from home quarantine. The e-pass is mandatory for all international passengers and domestic travelers, except those from the neighboring states of Pondicherry, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
According to the latest guidelines, all passengers from the UK, South Africa and Brazil, with Tamil Nadu as their final destination, should give their samples for testing before leaving Tamil Nadu airports, even if they have tested negative for the coronavirus at other Indian airports upon arrival in the country.
All passengers from Europe and the Middle East (other than UK, Brazil and South Africa) must submit the Self-Report Form (SDF) for COVID-19 on the Air Suvidha portal before planned trip to India and must declare their travel history (14 days prior to arrival). They must do an RT-PCR test and carry the negative COVID-19 test report before departure. The test must have been completed within 72 hours of departure for India and uploaded to the portal www.newdelhiairport.in.
In its government decision of February 24, the government of Tamil Nadu updated travel guidelines for domestic and international passengers who choose to travel to the state. In accordance with guidelines released last month, people traveling to Tamil Nadu from other states and Union Territories (except Kerala and Maharashtra) should monitor their health for 14 days from the date of ‘arrival. People coming to Tamil Nadu from Kerala and Maharashtra are required to undergo a seven-day home quarantine and monitor their health based on symptoms. Symptomatic passengers will be subjected to a COVID-19 test.
In August last year, Tamil Nadu issued an order exempting all business passengers entering the state for a 72-hour short stay from quarantine standards to help boost business in the state after months of total lockdown.
As of Saturday, Tamil Nadu recorded 526 new cases of COVD-19, including 243 patients who tested positive in Chennai. The state witnessed the discharge of 560 patients. However, four patients succumbed to COVID-19. The Tamil Nadu government tested 54,864 people on Saturday.