Kerala releases SOP for domestic flyers, who will now need a travel permit

The Kerala government has released a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for domestic airline travel. The government has asked all the returnees to register themselves on the ‘COVID-19 Jagratha’ portal after obtaining a flight ticket to get a travel permit.

The travel permit will then be issued along with a QR Code on the registered mobile number and email. The same will have to be presented to the airline staff before the boarding passes are given.

If more than one passenger travel on a single ticket, details of all persons need to be entered by anyone in the group using ‘add family member’ option.

Medical screening will be held at the airport for all returnees to Kerala. If passengers are found to be symptomatic, they will be sent to a COVID-19 care centre.

Though Kerala Chief Minister had earlier said that all non-symptomatic passengers arriving through domestic flights need to undergo home quarantine for 14 days, the SOP states that one can only head home, if the local self-government institution gives nod for the same on the COVID19 Jagratha portal.

“If the local body concerned has not confirmed the availability of home quarantine on the COVID19 Jagratha portal before they reach the destination airport, they will be sent to institutional quarantine in the district concerned till the LSGI (local self-government institution) concerned confirms the availability of home quarantine facility,” it states.

The SOP also states that passengers can use their own vehicle or rented vehicles to go travel to their residences. In addition to the driver, one more person can accompany in the vehicle. But if the person coming to receive passengers come in physical contact with the passenger, they will also have to undergo a 14-day home quarantine.

The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation, too, has also arranged transport facilities for passengers.

The guidelines also state that passengers leaving from Kerala airports will also have to undergo medical screening. All outgoing passengers have been directed to arrive at the airports three hours prior to the departure to undergo medical screening. A certificate, conveying the asymptomatic status of the person, and contact history with any COVID-19 confirmed people, if any, can be obtained from the airport.