Combating coronavirus: Covid-19 test must be done abroad for returning Indians

Abu Dhabi - Medical screening of passengers will be done before taking flight from abroad and only asymptomatic people will be allowed to travel.

Indian nationals evacuated from abroad without Covid-19 testing is a matter of grave concern and will lead to spread of disease in the country, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said during a press conference.
Indian government had on Monday, May 4, said that medical screening of passengers will be done before taking flight from abroad and only asymptomatic people will be allowed to travel.
However, Vijayan said he has written to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking for Covid-19 tests to be done abroad before nationals depart for various airports.
"No Covid-19 test done abroad will lead to a dangerous situation. There will be 200 passengers in a flight and if one or two people are infected, it will p ut others in danger. Such a risk is not just for Kerala but for all other states in India. This is increase chances of outbreak of disease across the country."
'80,000 Keralites will be repatriated'
Vijayan said that only half of Keralites, who needed immediate relief, were being repatriated despite state presenting a priority list to the federal government.
"In first five days, 2,250 people will land at airports in Kochi, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram in first phase. As per our information, overall the Indian government is flying in 80,000 Keralites. But according to our understanding of situation, some 169,136 Keralites need immediate assistance. About 442,000 have also registered," he said and hoped that those in urgent need for repatriation will be evacuated soon.
The chief minister regretted that Kannur airport was avoided by the federal government from evacuation plan as more than 60,000 wanted to land there.
Kerala, he noted, has set up facilities to quarantine 250,000 people at airports and districts across the state. "We are expecting up to 20,000 people to return next week from abroad."
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com