Mangaluru: Relaxing its previous order, the Karnataka government exempted travelers from Kerala from having to furnish Covid-negative certificate, provided they have received at least one dose of the vaccine. The earlier order mandated two doses for passage.
Also, children below two years are exempted from RT-PCR proof. However, for all others a covid-negative certificate issued within 72 hours is a must to arrive into Karnataka.
In the original order, all seeking to enter Karnataka from Kerala were required to submit the RT-PCR negative certificate notwithstanding their vaccine status or age below two.
The order conditons will apply to Kerala travelers arriving by road, train or air. Bus conductors and Ticket Examiners in train must ensure people possess valid RT-PCR certificate during travel. At airports, Covid negative certificates are compulsory with boarding pass.
Although checking at border began Monday at South Karnataka, Cuttack, Kamaraj Nagar, and Mysore, the process was not very strict unlike now.
Those commuting regularly for educational or job purposes must produce covid-negative certificate once every two weeks. However, healthcare workers have been exempted from the order. Those making emergency travel to Karnataka in connection with deaths or medical treatment will be give their mobile number and address proof at checkpoints, after which swab will be collected for testing.
Those found violating rule will face stringent action and become booked under National Disaster Management Act. Earlier travelers from Maharashtra vaccinated with one dose were exempted from the order.
Although situation in Kerala is now satisfactory, Karnataka must continue with its monitoring and vigil measures, the government said in its order.
