New flight curbs to protect public health

Manama: Bahrain has announced the suspension of entry for travellers arriving from red list countries – India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal – on all flights starting today.

Bahraini citizens and residency visa holders are not subject to the suspension but will have to present an approved PCR test certificate conducted no more than 48 hours prior to boarding and undertake another PCR test on arrival and on the 10th day of stay, the Civil Aviation Affairs said yesterday.

It said the measures are in line with Government Executive Committee directives and based on the recommendations of the National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (Covid-19).

In addition, citizens and residency visa holders must quarantine for 10 days at their residence or at a licensed quarantine facility approved by the National Health Regulatory Authority, it said.

Vaccinated or non-vaccinated passengers arriving from countries other than the red list, must also present an approved PCR test certificate conducted no more than 48 hours prior to boarding and undertake another PCR test on arrival and on the 10th day of stay, as well as quarantine for 10 days in their residence or at a licensed quarantine facility.

Passengers arriving from the countries not included in the red list are exempted from:

1. Quarantine and PCR tests: if they are vaccinated and hold a Bahrain issued vaccination certificate or a certificate issued by a country whose vaccination certificate is approved by authorities in Bahrain, or a certificate issued by a country that has reciprocal recognition agreement with Bahrain.

2. Quarantine: if they are vaccinated and hold vaccination certificates issued by the US, the UK, a member state of the European Union, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan or Singapore.

Red list countries are modified based on an assessment made by the task force and is periodically reviewed in line with international developments, the authority said.

Source: https://www.gdnonline.com/Details/945771/New-flight-curbs-to-protect-public-health