RT-PCR negative certificate required for passengers going from Kerala to Tamil Nadu
The Tamil Nadu government has made a negative RT-PCR test mandatory for people traveling to the state from Kerala. It will be implemented from 5th August. Tamil Nadu Health Minister, Ma Subramaniam said that the decision was taken after the increase in the cases of COVID in Kerala.
Only people from Kerala who can present a complete immunization certificate along with the second dose taken 14 days before travel will be allowed to enter the state from August 5.
However, restrictions in Tamil Nadu’s border areas such as Cumbum, Nagercoil and Walayar came into force from Monday as authorities insisted on negative RT-PCR certificate or vaccination certificate 14 days before travel.
Ma Subramaniam along with Tamil Nadu Health Secretary, J Radhakrishnan inspected the domestic and international terminals of Chennai International Airport to oversee the COVID-19 screening at the airport on Sunday.
Minister Ma Subramaniam told IANS, the cases are increasing in Kerala and hence the Tamil Nadu state health department has taken negative RT-PCR certificate or complete vaccination certificate with second dose within 72 hours of travel. The vaccine taken 14 days prior to travel is mandatory for people arriving from Kerala to Tamil Nadu.
The minister also said that people traveling by road, rail or air will have to present these certificates at the Tamil Nadu border and only those showing the certificate will be allowed to enter the state.
The state health department has directed the officials of the districts where there has been an increase in the number of COVID cases, to monitor and implement preventive measures to control the increase in cases.
Karnataka has also issued a health alert stating that people from Kerala will be allowed to travel in that state only if they produce a negative RT-PCR certificate within 72 hours of travel. The Karnataka Health Department has also made a negative RT-PCR certificate mandatory for people from Kerala who have taken both doses of the vaccine.
