MARGAO
The State registered another spike in Covid cases on Thursday, but the show goes on along the beach belt unmindful of the rising number of cases.
A visit to the world famous Colva beach has revealed a free for all situation, with the beach crowded with visitors, mostly domestic tourists, who have descended on the beach to celebrate and ring in the New Year on Friday.
Sadly, Covid protocols have gone for a toss. Leave alone social distancing, most of the visitors were on the beach sans face masks, unmindful of the fact that Covid is once again raising its ugly head in the State.
A visit to Colva beach on Thursday evening revealed that the entire beach was literally soaked in an festive environment, with thousands of visitors enjoying the sunset with their families. Hundreds of visitors were seen taking a swim in the sea, making the task of the life guards difficult, who have been maintaining vigil along the crowded stretch.
A posse of Goa police were seen near the entrance to the beach, but it was clear they had no agenda to warn or caution the visitors to comply with the basic Covid protocol of maintaining social distances and to wear masks.
A local resident pointed out that Colva has been literally playing host to a free for all situation in the last few days, with domestic tourists descending on the beach in large numbers. “There’s no control over the crowd nor is there any authority around to enforce the basic protocol of maintaining social distancing and wearing masks,” he said.
