Expats need to carry COVID-19 negative certificate to return Kerala govt

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 22 (PTI) Expatriates from Kerala
settled in various countries, especially the Gulf, should
carry mandatorily a COVID-19 negative certificate if they want
to return home once the Centre gives it's nod for bringing
them back, the state government has said.
Keen to avoid fresh overseas cases after successfully
containing coronavirus spread in the state, the government has
issued an order stating that expats who possess certificates
showing that they tested negative for coronavirus can register
with NORKA (Non-Resident Keralites Affairs) department.
"We will allow only those people who carry the COVID
negative certificate (to travel to the state). Only after
which they can register with NORKA", state Home Secretary Dr
Vishwas Mehta told PTI in an interview.
After the Non-Resident Keralites register themselves, the
government would draw up a list on how to bring them back as
per priority, he said.
The order, issued late on Tuesday, specifically mentions
that the registration is for arranging quarantine facilities
in the state for the NRKs, if necessary, and not for getting
any priority in flight bookings.
As per the guidelines prepared by state government for
the return of NRKs, they will have to get themselves tested
from the country where they are before emplaning for Kerala
and should also be having COVID-19 negative certificates.
Mehta, who is also the Additional Chief Secretary, said
the government has drawn up a strategy to accommodate up to 10
lakh symptomatic people, including NRKs, for the purpose of
quarantine if there was a huge surge.
"Our strategy is NRKs should get themselves tested and
come to the state with a COVID-19 negative certificate. Once
they reach the state, they will be tested at the airports. If
they are found symptomatic, they would be shifted to COVID
care centres. Those without any symptoms will be sent home,
but they will be under observation for 14 days", he said.
According to official estimates, there are least 33 lakh
NRKs who are residing in various countries, including 22 lakh
in the Gulf region, and the government is expecting around
three to 5.5 lakh of them to come back within 30 days once
the flight services are resumed.
There has been a huge demand from the Non Resident
Keralites, settled in various parts of the globe, especially
the Gulf, where lakhs of people from the state are employed,
to return to the state due to the COVID-19 situation.
Those with expired visas, the elderly, pregnant women,
children, critically ill patients, students who have completed
their courses, and others are among the large number of people
who are waiting to come back.
The government is expecting a huge influx of NRKs and
also Malayalees from other states in the country to return
once the lockdown, in force till May 3 now, is lifted and air
services resume.
Kerala was the first state in the country to report
COVID-19 cases when three students from Wuhan in China tested
positive on their return home early this year.
The state did well in not only ensuring their recovery
but also in containing the spread of the virus after more
people who returned from affected countries like Italy and
Gulf region before the lockdown testing positive for the
deadly infection.
The treatment model adopted by Kerala has won global
appreciation with some foreigners, who were treated here,
saying the state was more safe.
Of the total 426 cumulative cases, there were only 117
active COVID-19 patients now under treatment with as many as
307 people having been discharged as of Tuesday. There were
only two deaths due to the disease in the state.
But, the state is now keeping its fingers crossed as
there had been a surge in COVID-19 cases in contrast to single
digit cases for several days.
Of the 19 positive cases reported on Tuesday, as many as
13 had returned from abroad, three from Tamil Nadu, one from
Uttar Pradesh and two had been infected through local
transmission.
On quarantine facilities, Mehta said in the event of a
surge in the coming months, the government has identified
places like schools, hotels and resorts to accommodate at
least 10 lakh people.
"Around 27,000 institutions, including hotels, resorts,
hostels, schools, lodges, stadiums and even auditoriums have
been identified where we can accommodate around 10 lakh
people, including NRKs. Space has been found. Stadiums and
auditoriums will be used as a last resort," he said.
However, what is likely to give the government nightmares
is keeping track of everyone reaching the state when inter-
state train and bus services are resumed after lockdown.
"For such people coming into the state in buses and trains
only thermal screening can be done to a certain extent. We
will have to draw up a strategy for them," the Home Secretary
said.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has already written to
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to show 'special consideration"
and arrange special flights to the Gulf for airlifting NRKs
stranded there due to the lockdown.
The Centre has informed the Supreme Court and other high
courts that as of now it has no plans to carry out evacuation
of Indians stranded in different countries due to lockdown
Talking about hospital capacity, Mehta said about 1.4
lakh beds have been identified in government and private
healthcare facilitates in the state.
"When the number of patients multiply there are chances
that the hospital system might collapse. Even the developed
countries lack facilities to accommodate a huge surge in
numbers," Mehta said.
The Public Works Department (PWD) has also begun the
process of physical examination of the facilities identified
to be used as COVID care centres, he said.
Kerala has four international airports at
Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode and Kannur which used to
operate at least 92 flights in a day. Once the lockdown is
lifted, the centre will decide on the number of flights to
transport NRKs to the state.
It is not only the Keralites residing abroad who are
wanting to return, but also those in other states, including
Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, which have witnessed high number
of COVID-19 cases.
"We do not have the exact figures of Keralites in other
states as of now. We cannot stop anyone from returning to
their state", the official said. PTI UD RRT
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)