Passengers with red status on Aarogya Setu barred from taking flights: Civil Aviation Ministry

The Civil Aviation Ministry on Thursday released guidelines for air passengers as the domestic flights resume in the country starting May 25. As expected, the guidelines focus on encouraging social distancing and minimum touch. The guidelines also include registering on the Aarogya Setu contact-tracin application.

According to the guidelines, passenger will need to certify the status of his/her health through the Aarogya Setu app or a self-declaration form. Passengers from containment zone or those who have tested positive for Covid-19 are advised not to travel. 

Passenger needs to get himself/herself checked for temperature and display the status of Aarogya Setu to the staff at the entry gate of the airport. In case the passenger doesn’t have the Aarogya Setu app, he/she will be facilitated to go to a counter provided by the airport to get the app downloaded.

The contact-tracing application, however, will not be compulsory for children below 14 years of age.

Apart from registering on the Aarogya Setu app, the guidelines also encourage users to embrace digital payment modes and e-documents.

“A self-declaration/ Aarogya Setu App status would also be obtained stating that the passenger is free of Covid-19 symptoms. Passengers with “red” status on the Aarogya Setu app would not be permitted to travel,” said the guidelines.

“In case of non-availability of Aarogya Setu app, the passenger should be facilitated to go to a counter provided by the airport where Aarogya setu can be downloaded,” it said.