Swab tests await overseas returnees: Health chief
Of 10,000 Karnataka expats, first batch to arrive on May 8
BENGALURU:
Of the approximately 10,000 residents of Karnataka who have been stranded overseas in the wake of Covid-19, the first batch is slated to arrive on May 8. Health Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Pandey said the list had come from the Central government and is a follow-up to the Centre’s decision to allow Indian citizens abroad to return home.
Taking no chances, the state government has fine-tuned the SOP (standard operating procedure) in advance of these arrivals. “The passengers may come through Bengaluru and Mangaluru airports, and Karwar and Mangaluru sea ports in the state, where we will have a large number of health screening teams,” Pandey said.
Post screening, passengers will be divided into two sets — symptomatic and asymptomatic. The first group will be taken to Covid-19 isolation hospitals and the second group will be quarantined in hotels of their choice, for which they will have to pay, he said, adding that swab tests would be done for both groups.
Minister’s figures
Earlier, Education Minister and Covid-19 spokesperson Suresh Kumar had given the media a break-up of 10, 823 persons, of whom 4,408 are travellers, 3,074 students, 2,784 workers and 557 shippies. He had said that around 6,000 Karnataka residents would return in the first phase.
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