Check out the new Covid-19 guidelines in Goa
Gomantak Times
In the wake of the rising cases of Covid-19 and the increasing threat of the new coronavirus variant Omicron, the Goa government on Wednesday, December 30, issued an order allowing casinos to operate with 50 per cent capacity with entry restricted to people who are fully vaccinated or those carrying a negative RT-PCR test report and has put similar curbs and conditions at some other establishments, including cinema halls and entertainment parks.
State Revenue Secretary Sanjay Kumar in the order stated that casinos, cinema halls, auditoriums, community halls, river cruises, water parks and entertainment parks cannot operate beyond 50 per cent of the seating capacity.
Goa has witnessed a sudden spike in daily Covid-19 cases with the state's positivity rate jumping up at 5.25 per cent for the first time in months.
According to the order, Only people who are fully vaccinated and possess a certificate of both doses with 15 days gap since the administration of the second dose will be allowed to enter casinos.
If not a vaccination certificate, people should furnish a negative RT-PCR test report not older than 24 hours from the time of entry, it said.
The order further directed spas, massage parlours, restaurants, pubs, bar halls, auditoriums, gyms, marriage venues, cinema halls, river cruises, water parks and entertainment parks, among others, to adhere to all COVID-19 safety protocols, including the use of masks, hand sanitisers and thermal screening.
The state government has made owners, managers, licensees and organisers responsible for the enforcement of the guidelines, including making necessary arrangements for verification of vaccination certificates and test reports.
For schools and colleges, the order stated schools may reopen subject to the separate SOPs to be issued on behalf of the Education Department.
For interstate travel, people who are fully vaccinated or for those entering Goa for medical emergencies or people carrying COVID-19 negative certificate issued 72 hours before arrival will be permitted in the state, it said.
On Wednesday, Goa reported 170 cases, crossing the 100-mark for the first time since September.
In May, the delta variant caused the second wave of the pandemic and Goa was one of the worst-hit states with the highest infectivity rate of over 50 per cent.
