Covid-19: Tamil Nadu makes RT-PCR test must for people coming from Kerala

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government has made RT-PCR test report mandatory for people entering the state from Kerala from August 5.

"RT-PCR report is mandatory for people coming from Kerala to Tamil Nadu from August 5," said Tamil Nadu Health Minister, Ma Subramanian.

The decision comes as Kerala has been witnessing a sharp rise in the coronaviurs cases for the past few weeks. 

Besides Tamil Nadu, the Karnataka government has also announced that people arriving to the state from Kerala and Maharashtra have to produce a negative RT-PCR certificate before entering the state. The certificate is mandatory for all passengers coming to Karnataka by flight, bus, train and personal transport.  

The Centre on Saturday said that ten states, including Kerala and Maharashtra, are witnessing an upsurge in COVID cases and positivity rate, advising strict restrictions in districts with a positivity rate of more than 10 per cent, to prevent crowds and intermingling



of people.

Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Assam, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh and Manipur are the 10 states that are either reporting a rise in new daily COVID cases or a rise in positivity rate, according to a Union Health Ministry's statement.

The Union Health Ministry has deputed a six-member team in Kerala for effective COVID-19 management. The team headed by National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Director SK Singh reached the state on Friday.

The ministry's statement said the team will work closely with state health authorities, take a stock of the ground situation and recommend necessary public health interventions to contain the spread of the virus.

In a tweet, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said, "The Central government is sending six-member team to Kerala headed by NCDC Director. As a large number of COVID cases are still being reported in Kerala, the team will aid state''s ongoing efforts in COVID-19 management."