COVID-19 test mandatory for Indians travelling from Oman to Kerala

Indians who are travelling from Oman to Kerala in repatriation flights from June 20 will have to carry a Covid-19 negative certificate, according to a directive issued by the state government said.

According to the new decision, Keralities in Oman will have to undergo a Covid-19 test before boarding either Vande Bharat Mission flights or charter flights to the state.

“Passengers will have to PCR / Trunet Covid/ Antibody test to identify the COVID positive cases and to bring in only those who are tested COVID negative. They should carry their test report with them for verification,” said Dr. Vishwas Mehta, Kerala Government’s Chief Secretary in a letter written to India’s External Affairs Ministry.

According to the letter, close to 2% of the overseas returnees to Kerala are found to be COVID-19 positive and is under treatment. The rate of infection in some countries is as high as 5 %. “This implies that, even the COVID negative persons when travelled along with the infected persons, have been exposed to the infection and have become ‘high risk contacts’. This has posed serious problem to the Government as many of the returnees could be asymptomatic carriers and potentially infecting people around them.If this is not addressed , there could be a surge of infection, leading to serious consequences to the peole of Kerala,” Vishwas added.