Trivandrum: The Kerala Government has issued Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the stay of people coming to the State for short visits not exceeding seven days for urgent purposes, without undergoing the mandatory home/institutional quarantine enforced following the outbreak of Covid-19.
This relaxation is entitled to those visiting the state for purposes like business, official matters, trade, medical care, court cases, attending examinations and property management, after obtaining entry passes through the Covid19 Jagratha portal, according to the Government Order in this regard.
Students coming to the state for academic purposes can stay for three days before the start of the examination and three days after the exam.
District Collectors, District Police Chiefs and other Heads of Departments have been directed to ensure that people coming for short visits strictly follow the SOP, as per which the duration of the visit is for seven days and the visitors should leave the state on the eighth day.
The travellers, while registering in Covid19 Jagratha portal, should provide the details of their local itinerary along with the purpose of visit, local accommodation and contact person. Local authorities should be informed of any deviation from this with valid reasons.
District Collector concerned, after verifying the details, will approve the short visit. The local contact persons/ company/ firm/ sponsor shall also be responsible for the visit of the person.
Those coming on such visit should directly go to the hotel or place of stay without halting at any place in between. They should not meet any persons or visit any place other than the purpose for which they got permission. They should not also visit any hospital or public places.
The visitors should refrain from coming into contact with elderly people above 60 years of age and children below 10 years. Students coming for examination or academic purposes should not go out of their rooms for any purpose other than the approved ones.
During their stay in the state, travellers should follow all Covid-19 advisories and precautions including social distancing, frequent hand-washing and wearing a face mask. They should carry hand sanitizer and extra masks while travelling. They can seek room service or food delivery facility.
They should not extend their stay in the state without obtaining prior permission from the government authorities concerned.
They should contact DISHA helpline 1056 if they develop any symptoms like fever, sore throat, cough, breathlessness, diarrhoea, even if mild, and should not come out of the room without the permission of local health authorities. They will be moved to Covid treatment centres and need to undergo testing, and based on the results further management shall be offered.
If the traveller fails to follow any of these conditions, he/she will have to undergo 14 days’ institutional paid quarantine. If the traveller tests positive within 14 days after return from the state, he/she should inform the control room at once.