Rapid testing on arrival

TDT | Manama

The government of the Indian state of Kerala has mandated that all repatriated passengers from Bahrain must undergo rapid coronavirus (COVID-19) screening tests on arrival at their airports. All symptomatic passengers will then be isolated and shifted to a hospital for further investigation and management.

Based on statistics from a report they released yesterday, 0.33 per cent of 3,609 passengers who flew from Bahrain to Kerala have tested positive for COVID-19. The least rate of positive cases was registered from Bahrain among passengers from GCC nations.

Passengers to Kerala from Kuwait had the highest rate of infections (4.65 per cent), followed by Saudi (2.03 per cent), the UAE (1.85 per cent), Qatar (0.87 per cent) and Oman (0.62 per cent). As reported earlier by TDT, the Indian central government rejected on Tuesday Kerala’s demand that all incoming passengers from abroad must provide COVID-19 negative certificates on arrival.

This new move to mandate rapid testing on arrival came as a result of this decision. The regulations for passengers flying from Bahrain to Kerala also dictate that, irrespective of the test results, they shall undergo a mandatory 14- day quarantine. Also, while on board their flight, passengers need to wear N95 masks, face shields, hand gloves and carry sanitisers to frequently disinfect their hands.

These regulations are applicable to all chartered repatriation flights as well as flights under the Indian government’s “Vande Bharat Mission”. Private organisations in Bahrain are chartering 16 Gulf Air flights to three different Indian cities, at the request of many stranded Indian nationals over the last two days.

An Indian Club Bahrain (ICB) sponsored repatriation flight flew to the city of Kochi in Kerala with 169 passengers on board yesterday. ICB provided the passengers with kits containing face masks, hand gloves, 30ml sanitisers along with the snacks and refreshments. The ICB has also scheduled a jumbo jet flight to the Indian city of Hyderabad this Saturday to repatriate 282 passengers.

Telugu Kala Samithi and Fahdan Travels will collaborate with the ICB for this mission. ICB President Stalin Joseph expressed his gratitude towards His Majesty the King and the Labour Market Regulatory Authority for their support throughout the mission.

He also thanked the Government of India, State Government of Kerala and the Indian Embassy in Bahrain. Joseph also extended his sincere gratitude to the everyone who contributed towards the mission.