GOA state government sets new quarantine guidelines for tourist

With the increasing number of cases in India, the state government of Goa has issued new quarantine rules with collaboration with the Airports Authority of India.

The new quarantine rules require all passengers traveling to Goa need to goes mandatory 14-day home quarantine or 14 days paid institutional quarantine. With specific requirements, the institutional quarantine has been made mandatory for symptomatic passengers until the test result is released.

The travelers can be permitted to skip quarantine in case they have a COVID-19 negative certificate issued by an ICMR-recognized lab that should not be older than 48 hours before the arrival in Goa. The traveler can also make swab test upon arrival in the airport with the cost of INR 2000 (Approx USD 27.00), and taking mandatory paid institutional/home quarantine until the result is out.

All tourists, traveling to Goa, must book the registered hotel accommodation for their entire stay, which will be verified by the authorities at the entry point. Incase the Covid-19 symptom is seen, the visitor needs to undergo the test at an authorized center in their own expenses. The passenger needs to go under self-isolation until the test result is received. Such isolation of hotel quarantine will be done in the registered hotel booked by the passenger.

In case of the negative result of COVID 9, the visitor is permitted to travel out of the isolation facility. However, if the tourist tests positive, the accommodation unit will act as per the rules issued by the state health department. All bills related to the quarantine, tests, etc. shall be paid by the tourists.

If the tourists willing to move their stay in Goa, it will be sanctioned with the approval of accommodation units run by the tourism department. The tourist has to present the proof of re-booking, if any, to the Rapid Response Leader of the hotel/accommodation unit before they can be moved from the original accommodation.

For the accommodation change, tourists will have to fill a self-declaration form at the accommodation unit for contact tracing. Passengers will have to update/certify the status of their health via the Aarogya Setu mobile app or a self-declaration form.