Tourists forced to wait for hours for Covid-19 related clearance
Gomantak Times
In the wake of night curfews and Covid-19 restrictions imposed in other states, a large number of domestic tourists from neighbouring states are trickling into Goa for the New year celebration.
Long queues of passengers' buses and private vehicles of domestic tourists can be seen at three checkpoints - Patradevi, Kiranpani, Nayabagh - in Pernem in North Goa.
The Patradevi check-post is witnessing the chaos of around 200-250 tourists lined up for Covid-19 tests. However, this is not the thing plaguing the busy check-post. It also lacks basic amenities like a toilet facility, no eateries, shortage of manpower and ineffective testing systems.
The passengers are stranded for two three hours as Covid test, being done by two private health departments workers, is taking 15 to 20 minutes to test one citizen at a time.
The Patradevi check-post is witnessing the chaos of around 200-250 tourists lined up for Covid-19 tests.
Another major issue is people not carrying vaccine certificates, making it difficult to have hassle-free Covid-19 related clearance. Buses arrive at Patradevi check-post and wait in queue for checking of vaccine certificate and if one passenger does not have the certificate of two doses, entire passengers in the bus have to wait.
"There was no facilities of even changing rooms, toilet or tea stall. We have wait hours here. Government should provide basic things atleast," said one traveller.
The passengers are stranded for two three hours
"The Covid test performed at this place makes no sense, no positive corona patient is found. And no one keeps a physically safe distance or puts a face mask on the crowd that is testing,' Menino Pereira, a tourist from Mumbai, told Gomantak Times.
"Government, health department and deputy collector should have provided all the facilities before making any decision. Everything cannot be controlled by police," Rajan Korgaonkar, a resident of Pernem, told Gomantak Times.
"The government should pay attention to this facility as there are no toilet facilities and people come to the village and demand to use the toilet but the locals are afraid to help them because of fear of Covid-19," a local said.