Kerala fears rise in Covid-19 cases as residents return from red zones

Kochi: The Kerala police has registered a case against three non resident Keralites who returned from Abu Dhabi to Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday for hiding the fact that they are infected with coronavirus. The three passengers from Kollam landed at Thiruvananthapuram by concealing their state of health.

Talking to media persons, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan termed the incident serious. “It is unclear how the trio could board the flight. The state government will urge the Union government to take up the matter with Abu Dhabi,” he said.

The three men have been sent to Government Medical College, Parippally, Kollam where their swab samples were tested positive and they were soon admitted.

Though the Kerala government urged the Centre to make pre-boarding Covid 19 test mandatory for all passengers, it is not being followed.

Meanwhile, many expats who returned by the special flights, as part of Vande Bharat Mission, have tested positive for the virus infection. Since they tested positive soon after landing, it is clear that they were infected before reaching the state.

The chief minister during the daily press conference said that the situation is alarming as the inflow of NRKs from other states and abroad continues. Most of those returning are from highly affected red zone areas.

A total of 38 flights will operate from different countries to Kerala till June 2, carrying 6530 expats. Most number of flights will be from Gulf countries, informed the chief minister.