Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the state would not be able to afford paying for the quarantine facilities of the "lakhs of people" coming to the state. That burdern will have to fall on the returnees.
"People will have to pay for institutional quarantine facilities in the state. It is not applicable at present. The state will introduce different ranges and a lesser amount for financially backward people," Vijayan told reporters.
"Lakhs [hundreds of thousands] of people will be coming to Kerala and the government won't be able to bear the expenses of all. All people in institutional quarantine should pay," he added.
According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Kerala has so far reported 896 coronavirus cases, including 532 cured or discharged cases and five deaths.
