KERALA: SCREENING FOR VIRUS AT BORDER

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With increase in number of coronavirus cases, the Kerala government on Sunday launched intensified medical check up at border areas for people entering the state by rail and road.

The government has identified 24 spots in border areas that Kerala share with Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and multiple teams each headed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DYSP) began the checking of vehicles coming into the state. With a UK national testing positive on Sunday, the number of COVID-19 cases in the state has risen to 20 and as many as 302 people are in isolation wards of various hospitals across the state.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had yesterday said a set of volunteers will be enrolled to assist the health department and they would be given special training by the officials for screening people in the border areas. "Each team comprises a senior police official (DYSP), a paramedical staff and a local volunteer. There are such multiple teams at various border points. They will monitor every vehicle and record the temperature, and other details of the passengers including travel history," a senior police official said.

"The state government had informed us about the monitoring of the passengers. But they are yet to begin the massive examination of travellers at railway stations.we have extended our full cooperation," a senior Railway official said.