Commencing of Tourism in Andamans

Details

ANI Administration Issues COVID-19 Testing SOPs for Incoming Tourists

Port Blair, Nov. 4: In continuation of Order No.536 dt.26/09/2020 A&N Administration has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for COVID-19 testing for incoming tourists to Andaman Islands with immediate effect as part of facilitation. The SOP is enclosed for compliance.

Any other orders or advisories issued by Govt. of India, A&N Administration or any other Competent Authority will also have to be followed, as applicable.

This issues with the approval of the competent authority.

SOP regarding COVID-19 testing for tourists coming to Andaman Islands On arrival at Port Blair

  1. The tourists arriving at Port Blair will be tested for COVID-19 at Veer Savarkar airport using Rapid Antigen Test (RAT). The results will be given at the airport itself. The tourists will be charged as per rate fixed by Administration. (Presently Rs. 500/- per person).

If the tourist tests negative, he/she can proceed for the trip. If found positive, he/she will have to undergo Institutional isolation till recovery from COVID-19.

  1. Alternatively, the tourists can opt to carry COVID-19 negative report from mainland based ICMR approved lab using Reverse TranscriptasePolymerase Chain Reaction (RTPCR) or True Nat test. However, the sample for RTPCR/True Nat test should have been taken within 48 hours of starting the journey from the origin station. (For e.g. if the tourist takes a flight from Delhi at 0600 hrs on 1st November 2020, the sample for RTPCR/True Nat test should have been taken not before 0600 hrs. on 30th October, 2020).

The result of this RTPCR/True Nat test will be confirmed online using the SRF-ID, following which the tourist will be exempted from RAT testing at the airport, and can proceed for the trip.

  1. If the sample for RTPCR/True Nat test has been taken more than 48 hours from starting of journey, re-test will be done at Veer Savarkar Airport using RAT test, even if RTPCR/True Nat test result is negative.

The tourists will be charged as per rate fixed by Administration. (Presently Rs. 500/- per person).

  1. No institutional or home quarantine is required to be observed if the tourist has tested negative either through RAT test at Airport or RTPCR/True Nat test at ICMR approved lab.

For travel to Shaheed Dweep and Swaraj Dweep

  1. Those tourists who are carrying RTPCR/True Nat based Covid negative report as described in para 2 or have been tested negative at Airport using RAT test as described in para 1, need not take the test again, for subsequent travel to or return from Shaheed Dweep and/or Swaraj Dweep.
  2. However in case any symptoms are developed, the tourist should immediately report to the nearest PHC/CHC and thereafter necessary testing will be done, as advised by Doctors.
  3. It is reiterated that travel to North and Middle Andaman Islands, Nicobar group of islands and Little Andaman Island is not permitted for tourism purposes, till further orders.

In case tourist tests Positive for COVID-19 on arrival or during stay

  1. If the tourist on arrival at airport tests positive, he/she will need to undergo institutional isolation as per existing health protocols. The cost of such isolation for govt. facility will be paid by the tourist as fixed by the administration from time to time. (Presently Rs. 1000/- for isolation at ITI Dollygunj COVID Ward).
  2. If the patient wants to stay at hotels he/she can stay in the hotels if all the conditions below are met:
  3. a) Patients are not symptomatic and not more than 60 years old.
  4. b) Request/undertaking is made by patient in writing.
  5. c) If allowed by doctors.
  6. Hotels will make necessary arrangement to designate a part of their rooms for institutional isolation for this purpose.