Tests back for travellers in Kasaragod

MANGALURU: In the wake of rising cases, the Kasaragod district administration has reintroduced mandatory online registration and Covid-19 tests for travellers who enter Kerala from Karnataka via Talapady and other border checkposts. The district has been recording an average 200 cases per day.
Police, revenue and health department officials are jointly manning borders to ensure registration of all inter-state travellers and subject them to tests.Kasaragod collector, Dr D Sajith Babu, said the measure is per a Kerala high court direction.
“However, no traveller will be prevented from entering the state,” Babu said. “There will be no special pass system or barricades. Covid-19 test facilities will be made available at checkposts.”
The move will hit many from Kasaragod who are employed in private and government sectors in Mangaluru and other parts of Dakshina Kannada as well as people on the Karnataka side of the border.
The Kerala High Court in September had directed the Kasaragod administration to open all roads to Karnataka, facilitating interstate travel. It also directed that there should be no prohibition except for identification of travellers to prevent spread of the virus.