Realising that tests before take off is “logistically difficult” in many Gulf countries, Kerala government has, for the time being, decided to shed its insistence on a COVID negative certificate for a non-resident to fly home. Instead, Rapid Antibody tests will be arranged at the airports in Kerala.
It is also not mandatory that all returnees fit themselves in a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) gear either. Only those coming from Saudi Arabia should be compulsorily rigged out in PPE gear. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said passengers themselves should procure the PPE kits.
The immunity certificate is optional for those returning from Kuwait as only two of the five terminals at the Kuwait International Airport conduct the test. Those coming without a test from Kuwait should compulsorily be decked in a PPE kit.
PPEs have been made mandatory for non-residents from these two countries as arrivals from these two have contributed the largest number of positive cases from abroad; Kuwait (4.65 per cent) and Saudi Arabia (2.03 per cent).
Those from the UAE and Qatar, besides producing proof of COVID free status, need to sport an N-95 mask, a face shield, mask and gloves. PPE kits are not required form them on the assumption that they come tested.
Fact is, 1.85 per cent of those who had till now arrived from the UAE and 0.87 per cent of returnees from Qatar were found positive.
Those from Oman and Bahrain, where tests are not possible, can board the plane without any proof but should wear an N-95 mask, face shield, mask and gloves. PPE kits are not compulsory for them as the share of infected from these two countries are low: Oman (0.62 per cent) and Bahrain (0.33 per cent).
New conditions for non-resident arrivals
The government has also laid down a fresh set of conditions for those arriving from June 25.
One, wherever it is possible to have any tests conducted, every returnee shall make sincere efforts to get tested and travel along with the certificate. These tests should have been conducted within the last 72 hours before undertaking the travel.
Two, every returnee shall enter their details into https://covid19jagratha.kerala.nic.in mandatorily before embarking on the journey.
Three, all the returnees will have to undergo screening at the arrival airport as per the protocol set out by Health Department. All symptomatic persons will be isolated and shifted to hospital for further investigation and management.
Four, all returnees, including asymptomatic persons, who do not have proof of having undergone necessary tests will be subjected to Rapid Antibody (lgG, lgM) upon their arrival at Airport by authorised agencies of Government of Kerala. All those turning positive for lgM antibodies shall undergo mandatory confirmatory tests such as RT-PCR /Gene X-press test /TruNat test.
Five, All returnees irrespective of the test results shall undergo the mandatory quarantine of 14 days.
Country-specific guidelines
Oman and Bahrain: Returnees need to wear N95 Mask, Face Shield, Hand Gloves and have Sanitizers for frequent disinfection of hands during the travel.
Qatar: Only those having the green status in the mobile app named - EHTERAZ – will be allowed and they will have to wear N-95 Mask, face shield and hand gloves and have sanitizers for frequent disinfection of hands during the travel. They will undergo COVID test on arrival.
UAE: All returnees should undergo the COVID test and travel only with the test certificate. They have to wear N-95 Mask, face shield and hand gloves and have sanitizers for frequent disinfection of hands during the trip.
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait: All should wear N-95 Mask, face shield and hand gloves and have sanitizers for frequent
disinfection of hands during the travel. In addition, they should wear Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) for safety of self and co-passengers.
They will have to undergo COVID test in the arrival airport (in case of Kuwait if they do not have a certificate of a test done within the stipulated time of 72 hours before travel), and exit only after they are cleared by health authorities in Kerala.
Any violation of the undertaking provided or breach of health protocol guidelines, will lead to penal actions under The Disaster Management Act, 2005, The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 and other relevant Acts and Rules.
The Chief Minister said the government still felt that tests done prior to boarding an aircraft was the best bet to prevent transmission. He said the Centre was working with embassies in the Gulf to make this possible.