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Travelers will have to quarantine for 10 days before the second test
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Passengers from ‘red-list’ countries need to present proof of residency
Bahrain will now be testing all the passengers, for coronavirus, arriving from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka at Bahrain International Airport (BIA). The travelers will also have to undergo two PCR tests – one upon arrival at BIA and one after 10 days of quarantine. In addition to that, the passengers from ‘red-list’ countries will also have to provide a copy of their electricity bill or lease agreement as proof of residency.
They can also submit a hotel reservation, as an alternative, according to a revised advisory from Bahraini authorities yesterday. These amended regulations – endorsed by diplomatic missions and airlines – aim to ensure an effective 10-day quarantine for all those entering from these countries in the wake of new variants of Covid-19 spreading across the Indian subcontinent.
Yesterday, hundreds of passengers who traveled from the red-listed countries were caught off guard as they were unaware of the tighter regulations. A number of expatriate residents who arrived were held up at the airport despite immigration clearance, for want of one of the evidence documents, demanded by health officials.
However, it was resolved after diplomats and social workers intervened. “We are aware of the matter and in touch with airport authorities,” Indian Ambassador Piyush Srivatsava told the media. The mission updated its travel advisory last night.
The Civil Aviation Affairs had announced that entry from red-list countries will be restricted to Bahraini citizens and residency visa holders who must present an approved PCR test certificate conducted no more than 48 hours prior to boarding.
They must undertake another PCR test on arrival and on the 10th day of stay. Additionally, they must quarantine for 10 days at their residence or at a licensed quarantine facility approved by the National Health Regulatory Authority. The rules are also applicable to all vaccinated or non-vaccinated passengers arriving from countries other than the red list, with exemptions for certain categories.
Indian social worker Fazal Ul Haq told the media that almost 150 passengers faced hurdles as they could not present any valid proof of residency at the airport for the last two days. “There were people of all nationalities and they were not aware of the new regulations,” he said.
Indian national carrier Air India endorsed these regulations in its advisory, as part of bilateral operations currently under the air bubble agreement (travel corridor established amidst Covid-19). It highlighted that the negative PCR test for Covid-19 was for those above six years.