PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday ruled out the possibility of enforcing a mandatory Covid negative certificate or Covid testing for tourists entering Goa.
Ironically, the statement comes on a day when neighbouring Maharashtra has recorded 9,855 new cases of the viral infection showing a spurt in its chart.
Sawant, who received his first dose of the Covid vaccine on Wednesday, opined that following Covid safety guidelines by all tourists visiting Goa should prove to be enough protection from a spike in cases.
CM Sawant has also categorically ruled out the possibility of another lockdown in the state in consideration of the sudden rise in new cases across the country even as Goa continues to figure among the top six states and Union Territories with a weekly positivity rate higher than the national average of two per cent.
Goa’s positivity rate has been consistently above three per cent in the last week and had touched 5.5 per cent once during the last week, an instance that was dismissed quickly by CM Sawant as nothing more than a cause for concern.
“Cases are fluctuating. The numbers touched 100 once last week and were down to 45 again thereafter. Even after completing vaccination, one should continue to follow safety norms,” he stated when asked about the rising Covid cases.
Commenting on the ongoing vaccination drive in Goa, Sawant said that the drive is picking up speed in Goa and assured that all procedural snags will be resolved over the coming days.
He explained that the vaccination drive is helping to eliminate the fear of Covid-19 and urged more eligible citizens to participate in the drive.
“Covid-19 is now under complete control in the state due to the very good work done by the doctors’ teams, health workers and officers,” CM Sawant concluded.
