THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Authorities are planning to set up quarantine facilities at various parts of the state in order to ensure that there will not be any virus spread once a large number of NRI Keralites and others return to the state after the nationwide lockdown is lifted. Dr B Iqbal, chairman of the expert committee appointed by the state government, has informed that those people returning to Kerala post the lockdown must register their details through mobile phones before starting their journey. Meanwhile, a set of guidelines has been prepared to study the possibility of community spread of the virus.

It is believed that a large number of NRI Keralites might return to Kerala once the lockdown is lifted. Authorities have already developed a special mobile application to collect the details of those returning to the state. Registration in the application is mandatory for all those returning to the state. Upon registering, they will be provided with digital passes. Only those people completing the registration will be allowed to move out of the airports and railway stations. Special quarantine facilities will be set up near all airports and railway stations.

Special care will be provided to those who are likely to get infected such as elderly people and those people suffering from serious diseases. Details regarding the returnees will be collected with the help of local bodies. Authorities also informed that widespread antibody testing will be conducted across the state. Those people returning from outside Kerala, health workers, people suffering from respiratory diseases and people living in hotspot regions will be tested for the virus.