Representation Image (Photo: gettyimages)
Thiruvananthapuram: Extensive arrangements will be made in all four airports in the state to conduct medical checks to detect COVID-19 when expats return to Kerala, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.
The CM was interacting with representatives of Non Residential Keralites in various countries through video conference.
“If the expats do not have symptoms of coronavirus, they must remain in home quarantine for 14 days. If such a facility is not available at their houses, the expats will have to remain in isolation at observation centres directly set up by the government,” he said.
Keralites stranded abroad following the coronavirus lockdown are longing to return to Kerala. The state government has been holding talks with the Centre to bring the expats back. The meeting with representatives of expats was held after receiving certain hints from the Centre in this regard.
“We are hoping to bring the expats back soon. This will be held in several steps and we must be strategic and disciplined during such a period. We are unlikely to have flight services to bring back all expats who wish to return home. The state government is demanding to bring people who need immediate attention back home before regular flight services resume,” the CM said.
The government wants everyone to come back. However, it is likely that only one section of people are brought back in the first phase. If that’s the case, we must think practically as to who must be prioritized, Pinarayi Vijayan added.
The CM urged all expats to register in the NORKA website www.norkaroots.org
Kerala will urge the Centre to use the Indian Community Welfare Fund to help the expats, the CM said. The state government has already demanded the Centre to grant a special package to rehabilitate the returning expats, Pinarayi Vijayan added.
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