Tourists not permitted to travel to North and Middle Andaman Islands, Nicobar group of islands and Little Andaman Island.
The Directorate of Tourism Andaman and Nicobar Administration has issued SOP regarding testing for tourists coming to the Islands.
On arrival at Port Blair, the tourists 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 Rs 500/-per person as per the rate fixed by Administration. The tourists can proceed for the trip, if tested negative. If tested positive, they will have to undergo Institutional isolation till recovery from COVID-19.
Alternatively, the tourists can opt to carry COVID-19 negative report from mainland based ICMR approved lab using Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase 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. 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.
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.
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, those tourists who are carrying RTPCR/True Nat based Covid negative report or have been tested negative at Airport using RAT test, need not take the test again, for subsequent travel to or return from Shaheed Dweep and Swaraj Dweep.
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.
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, they 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, which is presently Rs. 1000/- for isolation at ITI Dollygunj COVID Ward is charged.
The patient can stay in hotels, if all the conditions are met. The patients shouldn’t be symptomatic and more than 60 years old. The patient has to make a request or undertaking in writing and should be allowed by doctors.
Moreover, the hotels will have to make necessary arrangement to designate a part of their rooms for institutional isolation for this purpose.