Kerala Chief Minister, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan today informed that the State is ready to receive the Pravasi Malayalees being evacuated from overseas. The first two flights from UAE are expected to arrive in Kerala tomorrow. But he also mentioned that he is yet to receive any reply from the Prime Minister on the State’s demand for mandatory pre-boarding Covid tests for those who are being evacuated.
Briefing the media, the Chief Minister said, “We have got the operating procedure from the Civil Aviation Ministry and the Defence Ministry who are coordinating the flights and the naval ships. Two planes from Abu Dhabi and Dubai are expected to arrive tomorrow at Kochi and Kozhikode airports respectively. All the arrangements are in place. Those who are travelling must take all safety precautions and be very cautious, right from leaving their residence to the airport.”
The CM also informed that DIG-level police officers have been assigned to look after the security of the four international airports in the State and Kochi port where the expatriates are arriving.
Meanwhile, concerted efforts are being taken to bring the stranded Malayalee students in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh to Delhi and then transport them back to Kerala by special non-stop trains from Delhi. As per the figures available, there are 1,177 students from Kerala in these four States – 723 in Delhi, 348 in Punjab, 89 in Haryana and 17 in HP. The CM has written to the Chief Ministers of these states to facilitate their travel, and specifically to the Delhi CM to arrange for trains to Kerala. Once the date of the special train is received, the State government will make arrangements to bring all the students to one place in Delhi. The State government is also in touch with the Central government in this regard.
Till now, 6,802 Keralites from other states have reached Kerala. 2,03,189 persons have so far registered through the Covid Jagratha Portal. 69,108 have applied for the pass and 38,862 passes have been issued. The bulk of the people who have arrived here are from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and some from Maharashtra. Malappuram and Palakkad districts saw the highest number of arrivals.
“The guidelines for coming to Kerala from other states and abroad have been published and people are expected to follow it correctly. Those coming from hotspot areas will have to spend a week in government quarantine centre and then tested. If they are negative, they will be sent home for a further seven days quarantine. Those positive will be shifted to hospitals for treatment. Pregnant women and small children coming from abroad and other states will be quarantined at their homes”, the CM added.
Malayalees from other states who are now stranded in Kerala can travel back as soon as they get permission from the states where they need to go. Pass will be issued for their travel. Minister of Health & Social Justice, Smt K K Shailaja; Industries Minister, Shri E P Jayarajan, and Chief Secretary, Shri Tom Jose IAS, were also present for the media briefing.