The scare created by COVID-19 forced panic-stricken parents flee their house upon hearing the arrival of their son from Qatar.

Accounts of this nature abound in Kerala where people were seized with fear over the globally spreading deadly virus. The bizarre incident of parents fleeing their home was reported at Ariyallur in Malappuram district on Sunday evening.

After landing at Kozhikode international airport in Karipur and undergoing screening there the son informed his parents over phone that he has tested negative for the virus. However, he told them, the  authorities asked him to place himself on home-quarantine for two weeks. Unfortunately for the youth when he reached his house he was informed by the neighbours that his parents left for their daughter's houose.  Thankfully, the neighbours are taking care of him, says sources.

This reminds of an incident in Thrissur which was reported in this column recently about a doctor and his wife locked up inside their flat by office-bearers of the residents association suspecting the couple carry the virus since they had returned from a trip abroad. Police arrested four office-bearers of the association after the doctor rang up the police for help.

In Kochi, health officials came across a social ostracism complaint when a call received at the distirct control room started with a breakdown. The caller told the  officials her family is facing social ostracism after her daughter placed herself under home-quarantine on returning from Dubai. The woman told the officials that when she went to the church to pray for her daughter's well-being, she was not allowed to enter the church. Following this the authorities called the parish priest who made an announcement in the church that there should be no social ostracism in the name of the bug.

In the wake of foreign tourists facing hostile people in Kerala as there were complaints of hotels, lodges, and resorts turning them away following the scare created by the virus. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan warned of stringent action against people who deny foreign tourist food and shelter. 

Meanwhile, the state government has initiated steps to ensure the safe return of about 5,600 foreign tourists stranded din Kerala to their respective countries.

The tourists have been asked to report at the COVID-19 cell opened in all districts to enable their samples to be sent for tests at the nearest labs. Since some countries have made COVID-19 negative certificates mandatory to enter the country the tourists will be issued this certificatel. Upon receiving the certificate, the tourists should  ensure quick departure to their respective countries following all precautions, sources said.