Kerala makes RT-PCR test free for travellers from abroad

Kerala has made the RT-PCR test free for those who are arriving from abroad, informed Health Minister KK Shailaja. The state government will conduct the test for free and send the results to the people without any delay.

India has reported a 31 percent rise in COVID-19 cases within one week. In this background, the central government has directed to strengthen airport surveillance to control the spread of the disease. The spread of the new COVID variant is also feared.

Hence, the government has made COVID tests mandatory for all people coming from foreign countries, said the Health Minister. India has made RT-PCR negative certificate, obtained within 72 hours, mandatory for people belonging to all age groups including children who are coming to the country.

As per the rule, each traveller must undergo a fresh test even after obtaining the negative certificate. Apart from this, 14- days of quarantine is also compulsory for all travellers. The Health Minister has announced the free RT-PCR test for travellers from abroad following protests from expatriates over the strict rules