Kerala issues new travel rules for international arrivals

The Kerala administration has issued travel guidelines for international air passengers entering Kerala. The Health Department of Kerala has stated that only those showing COVID symptoms, among NRIs and international travellers entering the state, will now be tested for Coronavirus. Referring to this, State Health Minister Veena George added that the latest travel guidelines were issued based on the recommendations of an expert panel.

As per the latest travel guidelines, all international passengers need to undergo self symptom surveillance, irrespective of their duration of stay in Kerala. However, those found symptomatic, will be required to undertake an RT-PCR test. The guideline also added that random testing will also be done for 2% of international travellers arriving by flight,regardless of their country of departure; such testing will be carried out free of cost. Reports also have it that the passengers will be selected by airline officers. As per the guidelines, international travellers are advised to undergo home quarantine, and must continue self-health monitoring for 7 days. In case they develop any symptoms, they need to undergo testing.
As reported earlier, Kerala mandated those entering the state from ‘at-risk’ countries to undergo seven-day home quarantine entering the state from ‘at-risk’ countries. Apart from that, the Kerala Government had also made the RT-PCR test compulsory for those visiting from Omicron-hit nations.

Meanwhile, Kerala continued to register a dip in the daily COVID-19 infection rate. As per the health department, there are 352399 active COVID-19 cases in the state currently; out of this number, only 3% of the patients had to be admitted to hospitals.