Centre rejects state’s demand on Covid -ve proof for expats

Thiruvananthapuram: A final decision on Covid negative certificate for those returning to the state from abroad is expected on Wednesday. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday said discussions were on with the Centre in this regard and a solution would be evolved soon without causing any inconvenience for expatriates.
The Centre had earlier rejected the state government’s request to conduct TrueNat tests for those returning at embassies before they board the flights. The external affairs ministry, in a communique to chief secretary Viswas Mehta, said it was impractical for embassies to organise such tests.
Vijayan, however, said the Centre has informed it that several Gulf countries are conducting various tests. The embassies have communicated to the Union government that they are willing to carry out tests available in their countries. The UAE is doing rapid antibody tests while Kuwait conducts them at airports. In Oman, only RT-PCR tests are available while Qatar has a mobile app to screen passengers. Saudi Arabia has rapid antibody tests but they have not been approved by the government while Bahrain has reservations about conducting tests, he said.
“A discussion is on and a final decision is expected tomorrow. There is a positive response from embassies and that is why they have responded about tests available there. However, certain embassies have responded that it is not practical to implement this from June 25,” the chief minister said.
The state government had earlier extended the implementation of its decision to seek Covid negative certificates from returning expatriates till Wednesday. It had asserted that those boarding the flights to the state should take Covid tests and those testing positive for the virus could be brought in a separate flight if needed. The Centre has turned down the demand, saying it is not feasible to organise special flights for the infected.
The chief minister said the Covid negative certificates should be made mandatory for all those returning from abroad to the state. “That is the policy of the state government and it has been communicated to the Centre,” he said.
Asked why Covid negative certificates are not made mandatory for those travelling from other states, Vijayan said they were using multiple entry points and different modes of transport, hinting that the government considers such restrictions as impractical.