Kerala is safe: reiterates Tourism Minister

Kadakampally Surendran, Minister for Tourism, Cooperation and Devaswoms, has welcomed Indian Medical Association (IMA) president Dr Ravi Wankadekar’s statement that Kerala has nothing to worry about the Nipah virus scare and that the state is absolutely safe from the virus.

Stating that Kerala is indeed a safe destination, Kadakampally Surendran said that around 300 doctors who have arrived to Kerala from various parts of India for the IMA conference organised in Kovalam stands testimony to this. The arrival of the renowned doctors to Kerala has immense significance, he said. The Minister also conveyed his salutations to the doctors who have reiterated that travelling to Kerala is safe as ever.

IMA President Dr Ravi Wankedekar, who is in Kerala for the IMA conference had earlier said that the virus outbreak doesn’t hold any threat. Around 300 doctors arriving in the state itself shows that the virus isn’t a threat at all.

Lauding the doctors in Kerala who had been acted speedily enough to detect the virus as soon as the virus made its presence felt, he noted that the Kerala government and the healthcare agencies did a wonderful job by rolling out all steps to put up resistance to the virus.

A statement issued by Rajeev Sadanandan, additional chief secretary at the Kerala Department of Health and Family Welfare, said “Travelling to any part of Kerala is safe and that the situation was under control. However, if travellers wish to be extra cautious, they may avoid Kozhikode.”

“All the tourist locations and the state in general are safe as usual for holiday activities. The tourism industry partners in the state are more vigilant and equipped to provide a hassle-free holiday to the visiting travellers. The airports, railway stations, hotels and places of visit all are following the right protocols and are free of problems as usual,” said a statement issued by the president of the Confederation of Kerala Tourism Industry (CKTI) E M Najeeb.