Kerala ready to give TrueNat tests at embassies

Web Desk

The government has decided to provide TrueNat testing kits to embassies of those countries from which non-resident Keralites (NRKs) are returning home. The state expressed its willingness to provide testing before the Centre, airline companies and embassies, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said.

He said testing kits are abundantly available and hence state will provide these to countries where testing facility is unavailable. “It is learnt that the UAE and Qatar have facilities. However countries like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman lack this facility,” he said.

“We can do this only with the support of the Centre. Already discussions have been initiated with airline companies and embassies,” said the chief minister. Vijayan said that there will be no practical difficulties for embassies to set up testing facilities in these countries. He also made it clear that those who are testing positive should be airlifted in separate flights.

The state government is firm on the decision that expatriates coming from abroad, on Vande Bharat mission or chartered flights, should furnish COVID-negative certificates to reach Kerala. The decision taken by the cabinet on Wednesday was communicated to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Top level sources said ‘state will not be going back from its demand’.