Hordes of tourists are seen on the beaches in the state flouting rules of wearing the mask and social distancing. With an increase in the number of Covid-19 positive cases in states like Delhi and Maharashtra, people are thronging to Goa where the number of cases has dipped. This is a dangerous situation as (God forbid) Goa could witness a second wave of the infection which is supposed to be deadlier than the first one. Tourists visiting the beaches may be of the impression that due to the sea breeze there is minimal possibility of catching the infection. Hence they do not wear the mask. They could be wearing the mask at other places but not at the beach as they want to enjoy fresh air, especially those who have come from Delhi in order to escape the pollution there. In fact, the breeze could spread the virus to larger areas infecting more people. Strict vigil needs to be kept on those not wearing the mask on the beach. The government has increased the fine for not wearing the mask from Rs 100 to Rs 200. This marginal increase may not be sufficient to deter the tourists from roaming on the beach without a mask. The fine should have been at least Rs 1000 given the fact that not wearing a mask puts the lives of others at risk.
