Web Desk
Finally,a breather for the expats returning to Kerala.The state government on Wednesday has decided to make PPE kit mandatory for expatriates returning to the state,who cannot possess the COVID-19 negative certificate.
The decision was taken in the cabinet meet convened by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan here on Wednesday.According to the reports ,the kits for the passengers will be provided by airline companies.The government will soon issue the directives that make strict screening before the journey,safe social distancing flights,PPE kit for passengers and hand hygiene,mandatory.
Earlier ,the Kerala Government had made Covid-19 negative certificates mandatory from June 25,for those returning to the state from abroad.There has been widespread opposition to the government’s move which forced them to look for alternatives. The state government had defended its decision saying the certificate has been mandatory due to the high percentage of people returning from abroad testing positive for coronavirus.
Kerala’s proposal to provide TrueNat machines at West Asian airports was dismissed by the Center for its impracticality.Countries like Oman,Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have also said that it was impossible to conduct the tests in the current situation.Over 40 flights ,with over 35,000 expatriates ,are expected to land in the last week of June alone as part of the third phase of the Vande Bharat Mission.
