THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: COVID negative certificate was made mandatory as a safety measure, CM Pinarayi Vijayan said. The centre should arrange facilities for COVID test. The state has already demanded the same, the CM added.

Right from the start of Vande Bharat Mission, Kerala has demanded COVID tests. People with and without the disease should not be brought together. Free tests should be arranged for those with financial difficulties. If PCR test cannot be done, Antibody and Truenat tests are other options. The state never said that COVID positive persons are unwelcome here, but only demanded tests. But some are resorting to false propaganda that the state government is against expats, which includes some union ministers.