COVID-19 test must for chartered flight passengers to Kerala

Web Desk

Indian expatriates who wish travel to Kerala from the Sultanate of Oman on chartered flights after June 20, 2020 must first get themselves tested for COVID-19 before being allowed to board the flight, the Embassy of India in Oman has said.

“The COVID-19 test is only applicable to those passengers travelling by chartered flights and not for the Vande Bharat Mission flights and it is based on the Kerala government’s directive to our embassy in Muscat,” an embassy official said.

Passengers looking to fly to Kerala can get themselves tested at any government or privately-run health institution in the Sultanate. Some 9,000 Indians have already been repatriated from Oman to India so far, according to Munu Mahawar, the ambassador of India to Oman.

A notification in this regard was also directed to the Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia. Dubai Indian Consulate informed that this criteria will be relevant for those in UAE also.

Meanwhile, objections has been raised against this order issued by the Kerala government. It is said that the order may lead to cancellation of chartered flights. The details regarding the flights are informed to the passengers at the last time. In such situation, it will be hard for people to acquire the COVID-19 test certificate in a limited time in Gulf countries

The Gulf Indians