COVID-19: Frequent travellers rue ‘costly’ RT-PCR mandate as new restrictions kick in Kerala
3 min read Express News Service
KOCHI: The authorities’s transfer to make RT-PCR testing obligatory for all home travellers getting into Kerala has come as an inconvenience to those that have to maneuver out and in of the state ceaselessly.
Specifically, it’s the price – Rs 1,700 per RT-PCR check – that’s proving to be an unaffordable proposition and a significant problem for them.
The check of the fee is greater in Kerala than a number of different states, together with Karnataka (Rs 800) and Maharashtra and Telangana (Rs 500 every).
Many have demanded a discount in RT-PCR charges as extra checks are being carried out recently, and in addition extra readability on its validity with regard to frequent travellers.
Sumesh G, a small-scale businessman in Kochi who makes frequent enterprise journeys to Karnataka, Delhi and different states, has spent Rs 5,100 on RT-PCR checks alone previously two weeks.
“All the states are making RT-PCR tests mandatory before entering their borders. During the pandemic, which has burdened people financially, paying such a hefty amount per month for testing is not feasible. My wife’s parents are at her brother’s place in Chennai. If we visit them, the cost of testing me, my wife and our two sons who are aged above 18 would come to Rs 6,800,” mentioned Sumesh.
As per the brand new order, all home travellers, no matter vaccination standing, must take RT-PCR check 48 hours previous to getting into the state or instantly after reaching Kerala.
“At least those who took the first dose of vaccine should be exempted. Though the steps have been taken to restrict travel and curb the spread of the virus, the economic aspect cannot be ignored. Many other states have slashed the rates and the cost of the test is quite low compared to Kerala,” mentioned Jerin P, a techie working in Bengaluru and a Kerala native.
RT-PCR charges have been elevated from Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,700 in February. Other checks, together with XpertNat, TrueNat and fast antigen price Rs 2,500, Rs 1,500 and Rs 300 respectively.
“So far, no decision has been taken on slashing the cost of RT-PCR test. If it is an issue, necessary measures will soon be taken by the health department to make it affordable,” mentioned a well being official with the Covid-19 job power in Kerala.
Meanwhile, individuals coming to Kerala, together with these arriving at Walayar checkpost, with out RT-PCR check outcomes and registering on the Covid Jagratha portal on Monday have been knowledgeable concerning the new directives and requested to take the check instantly because it was the primary day of the brand new order coming into impact.
STATE TO GO AHEAD WITH SSLC, PLUS-TWO EXAMST’Puram: Despite the surge in Covid instances, the state will go forward with the continuing SSLC and Plus-Two examinations.
The Director of General Education Ok Jeevan Babu has issued a set of directions for strict implementation of Covid protocol in examination centres throughout the state.
Temperature checks utilizing infrared thermometers earlier than entry into examination centres and making triple-layer masks obligatory for instructing and non-teaching workers, and if attainable, for candidates as effectively are among the many precautions to be taken.
Babu mentioned micro-plans shall be devised in school stage for efficient implementation of Covid protocol. Covid constructive candidates, these below quarantine and people having excessive physique temperature, shall be seated individually.
All head masters have been instructed to make sure satisfactory transportation association for college students in addition to academics.
A particular workforce shall be deployed at colleges to observe the state of affairs in case college students or academics present any signs of the an infection.
The workforce includes well being employees, NGOs and academics. As a part of Covid protocol, solely two college students are being seated in a single bench.
The reply scripts of Covid constructive college students shall be collected individually and despatched to valuation centres.
While the SSLC examinations will finish on April 29, the Plus-Two and VHSE examinations will conclude on April 26.
The examinations have been scheduled to be held from March 17 however have been postponed to the second week of April in view of the meeting elections.
