5000 expats expected to return to Kerala within one week; health department on high alert

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As part of the third phase of Vande Bharat Mission, about 5000 expats are expected to return to Kerala within one week.

Following this information, the State health department is on high alert. The next eight days will see Malayalis from the Gulf and other countries returning to Kerala en masse via Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kozhikode airports.
Many Malayalis who returned Kerala under Vande Bharat Mission and were sent to quarantine had tested positive for Covid. Taking this into account, the health department has decided to augment preventive measures against Covid.

Steps are being taken to constantly observe expats who are under home quarantine and prevent community transmission.

Pregnant women, elderly people, and diseased will be sorted into separate groups and closely observed. Those who have health issues will be sent to first line treatment centres or Covid care centres, if it is necessity.

Starting from tomorrow up till June 18, 14 charter flights will reach Kochi, once they get the Centre’s nod. The originating countries will be Algeria, Ghana, Tajikistan, besides Gulf countries.

From Tuesday to June 21, 15 flights of Air India Express will operate service from Gulf to Kochi. The boarding place will be Abu Dhabi, Salalah, Doha, Kuwait, Dubai and Mascot.

There will be Air India flights on June 11, 13 and 20 from Singapore. There will also be additional services from Sydney and Vietnam. The flight from Sydney to Kochi via Delhi will reach the destination on June 23.

The second Vietnam service will be on June 23.