Reconsider Covid negative proof move: Oommen Chandy to Kerala govt

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former chief minister Oommen Chandy said the government has set an unrealistic and impractical condition for the return of expatriates from Gulf countries. "Government should realize the situation and reconsider the decision on making Covid-negative certificate mandatory for returnees," he said.
In several countries, there are certain limitations in conducting tests. Government should consider this and suggest practical ways for the return of NRKs. The lives of expatriates cannot be put in danger by imposing such a restriction, he added.
Government claims that if a disease carrier is put on a flight then entire passengers will be infected. Government is unnecessarily creating panic by propagating this notion. If you go by the statistics of returnees till date and positive cases reported among them, it shows that the government argument is wrong, said Chandy.
Till June 17; 84,195 people arrived from different countries to Kerala. Among this, only 713 people tested positive.
This is below 1% (0.85%) of the total passengers who arrived from abroad. Government has already made it clear that infection rate through contacts is less than 10%. Hence, no panic situation has been created with the return of expatriates.
Government has asked expatriates to travel within three days of obtaining Covid-negative certificate. How can an NRK guarantee that he would get a ticket within three days? Government should reconsider the decision, urged the former chief minister.
The chief minister should also understand that neither embassies nor foreign countries will agree to the conditions set by a state government. The protocol set by Centre is what embassies are following. All new restrictions will only create hurdles for those who want to return, said Chandy.