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Merge 104.8 | 24 June 2020
Indian expats abroad who hold confirmed tickets on repatriation flights to Kerala, will now be allowed to board the aircraft wearing full PPE kit in instances where they are not able to obtain a medical certificate stating they are free from COVID-19.
In a decision announced today [Wednesday, June 24], the Kerala state government has said it will relax the medical certificate requirement in light of challenges faced by some stranded Indian nationals in accessing COVID-19 tests abroad.
As Asianet news reports: “The decision was taken considering the difficulties of expats in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain to conduct COVID-19 tests. However, for expats from countries where COVID-19 tests can be done, the negative certificate would be mandatory.”
In a cabinet meeting held today, Kerala’s state government has said that the PPE kits will be provided by the airlines though, as per Asianet’s report: “No clarity has been given on who will bear the expense for it.”
Authorities in Kerala had previously announced that the requirement of a COVID-19 negative certificate prior to travel for returning Indian expats wold come into effect on June 25, in an effort to help prevent the onset of a second wave of the virus in the south Indian state.
Source: Asianet
(Also read: Oman’s expat population sees significant drop in numbers since March.)
