Fearing a fresh spike in Covid-19 cases, the Karnataka government has tightened norms in districts bordering Kerala and Maharashtra.
Beginning Sunday, all those travelling to Karnataka from these two states will have to produce an RT-PCR negative certificate that is not older than 72 hours, apart from showing a vaccination certificate stating that the person has taken both doses of vaccine.
Speaking to mediapersons after a meeting with Deputy Commissioner (DCs) of districts bordering Kerala and those that see high number of commuters from the bordering state, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said the state government had decided to tighten norms in the wake of rising number of cases in Kerala.
"Even during the second wave of Covid-19, we got many cases from Kerala and Maharashtra. Over the past week, cases have gone up in Kerala and hence we must be on high alert. Until now, we were allowing people even with a single dose of vaccine. From Sunday, both doses of vaccine will be mandatory to enter Karnataka," he said.
These districts include Chamarajanagar, Mysuru, Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Shivamogga. In Dakshina Kannada especially, there are people commuting from Kerala everyday for work.
While until now, they had to get tested for Covid every fortnight, henceforth, they will have to get a test done every week. Weekly travel passes will be issued for the same.
"Cases have gone up in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. The positivity rate has increased from 1.5 per cent to 4 per cent in these districts. The state aims to keep this below 5 per cent," he said.
The same rules will apply for Belagavi, Vijayapura, Bidar and Kalaburagi, which share a border with Maharashtra, Bommai said.
In other districts too, checkposts have to be setup to double-check vehicles from outside Karnataka. Homestays and resorts will also have to insist on RTPCR tests and ask for vaccination certificates from guests, he added, specifically citing Chikkamagaluru, a tourist destination.
According to a government order earlier in the day, all passengers coming to Karnataka from Kerala and Maharashtra by flight, bus, train and personal transport will be monitored. Airlines will issue boarding passes only to the passengers carrying RT-PCR negative certificate not older than 72 hours.
Children below two years and those travelling in emergencies such as death or medical treatment will be exempted, the order added.