Stricter curbs in Kerala after 2 Gulf evacuees positive

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Two people evacuated from foreign countries tested positive for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) on Saturday, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.

Both evacuees, one from Dubai and another from Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, had returned Thursday, the CM said, adding the state will have to maintain vigil as expatriates and people stranded in other states since the lockdown have started returning in large numbers.

He announced the state will observe a complete shutdown on Sunday to curb spread of Covid-19, and only essential services will be allowed. “If we lower our guard at this juncture, we will forgo our advantage. We will continue our strict surveillance. We can’t allow people who are coming without passes from other states. We have made it mandatory that people coming from other states should carry pass from the originating place and the destination state,” he said. HTC