Mandatory 10-day home quarantine for asymptomatic Covid-positive air crew

The flight crew members who have tested positive for novel coronavirus and are asymptomatic will have to undergo mandatory 10-day home isolation, according to a fresh notification by civil aviation regulator DGCA. Those asymptomatic Covid positive flight crew members will have to be in home quarantine for 10 days and can only be declared fit for flying again after proper examination by their medical supervisor, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a circular. If the Covid-positive crew members have 'mild symptoms', they will "continue home isolation and will stand discharged after 10 days of symptom onset and no fever for three days", the DGCA said.

According to the latest notification, it also stated that there is no need for "testing after the home isolation period is over". If the isolation period for mildly symptomatic crew members is more than 14 days, they have to be examined by DGCA empanelled Class-1 examiner and crew is fit to fly if the examiner declares so, the circular dated December 18 stated. It also stated that coronavirus-positive flight crew members who are moderately and severely symptomatic need to undergo special medical examination -- after their complete clinical recovery -- at one of the Indian Air Force boarding centres to get the "cure certificate"."Once declared 'fit for flying' at the IAF boarding centre, the air crew can commence flying only after DGCA medical assessment is issued," the circular said.