MAPUSA
Maintaining that Goa cannot afford another lockdown, Ports Minister Michael Lobo on Sunday said the tourism industry must be allowed to operate and political parties can hold functions by taking all necessary precautions against Covid.
He also pitched for a massive vaccination drive involving all elected representatives and even the NGOs.
“All activities should be allowed to go on by taking necessary precautions. After one year, if we start banning everything again then we will continue remaining in the lockdown mode for the next two to three years. More people will die from hunger than from Covid if we impose another lockdown again,” Lobo said.
The Ports Minister was speaking to The Goan on the sidelines of a function at Parra on Sunday evening.
Continuing, Lobo said every individual should take his own precaution while attending any functions or political rallies.
“If somebody invites me for a birthday I should not shake hands. Wish the person with a namaste and get back home. People are advised what to do and not to do and everyone should follow the guidelines,” he said.
He further said the State was just emerging from the economic slowdown due to the pandemic and another lockdown could spell disaster to the State.
“It’s a wrong notion that Covid cases have increased due to tourism. In December 2020 around 1.5 lakh tourists were on the beaches of Goa but nobody got Covid. The rise in Coronavirus infection is a matter of concern but it is not increasing because of the tourist inflow into the State,” he reiterated.
He said he has requested the CM and the Calangute Police to penalize tourists who do not wear masks and follow other Covid norms.
“A strong message should go to tourists that you are welcome in our State but you have to wear a mask, sanitize hands while entering the restaurants and maintain social distancing,” the Ports Minister said.
Lobo said vaccination was crucial to bring Covid under control and everyone including the media should support it in a big way.
“The vaccination should be supported. The media should show the vaccination drive. All elected representatives -- village panchayat members, sarpanchas, ZPs, MLAs, ministers, CM plus NGOs -- must work together to bring people out for vaccination. There is a need for a vaccination drive,” he said.
