KOCHI: Only one flight will reach Kochi tomorrow with non-resident Keralites (NorKs). The Doha-Kochi service has been shifted to Saturday. However, the reason for it is not clear. Meantime, there will be no change in Abu Dhabi-Kochi service. The first flight carrying expatriates will reach Kochi International Airport at 9.15 pm tomorrow night. There will be 200 passengers in the flight from Abu Dhabi.

The international airport and the health department are all ready to receive the expatriates. PPE kit for all employees of the airport on duty tomorrow has been made mandatory. Meantime, the Indians arriving tomorrow will be asked to maintain social distancing. Separate seating arrangements have been arranged in the airport. On completion of inspections and as the list prepared in the airport they will be transported to quarantine centres. The decision taken last is that they should be in mandatory quarantine for 14 days. If any symptoms are seen they will be immediately shifted to the hospital. The authorities of Kochi International Airport said the flight carrying the stranded Indians will be disinfected later.

All arrangements have been completed at the Kochi port. Earlier, there was no screening test at the port. As expatriates from Maldives are arriving, security similar to the airport, has been set up at the airport. Employees and health workers will wear the PPE kit. The district administration has set up more than 4,000 residences to accommodate the expats in quarantine. Meditation centres, auditoriums, hotels etc are under the consideration of the health department.