Thiruvananthapuram: The COVID antigen test for the participants of International Film Festival of Kerala for the Thiruvananthapuram region will begin on Monday. The test will take place at the main venue of the festival, Tagore Theatre. The Chalachithra Academy, in association with the Department of Health, will provide facilities for the test of delegates, officials, volunteers and duty staff from February 8 till 10.

All the participants registered for the festival will be informed about the dates and details of the COVID test via SMS on their registered phone numbers. Academy Secretary Ajoy Chandran has said that the facilities have been set up to conduct COVID antigen tests for 150 people per hour and everyone should undergo the test under the notified circumstances.

Delegates who test negative can obtain their delegate kit containing the pass along with the negative certificate issued by the academy on the same day. Those who submit the COVID negative certificate on their own will also be permitted to enter the festival. Only the certificates that have been issued from the labs or hospitals 48 hours prior to the beginning of the festival will be approved.

The academy has taken strict COVID protocols and preventive measures throughout the festival.