MONDAY, MAY 06, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: From June 10, incoming passengers will have the option of either home quarantine or paid testing, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said on Monday.
Following a heavy load on testing facilities with the increase in incoming traffic in the State, the government has decided to tweak the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for travellers.
The Chief Minister, who chaired three consecutive meetings with the ruling MLAs, Opposition MLAs and editors, said there was no reason for Goans to panic as the government is taking all care. “Do not fear, there is no death in Goa yet,” he said.
Speaking further, he said, the State has introduced a new SOP from June 10. “Incoming passengers now have the option of home quarantine, if they want to. We will give the responsibility on the local leaders and local panchayats on their surveillance,” he said.
He said the travellers will be given another option of paid testing. “The travellers will have to do paid testing and also pay for quarantine facilities for one or two days till their result is out,” he said.
He said this is being done to reduce the load on testing facilities which is under stress due to increased traffic inflow from other States.
He said the State will still continue testing of 1,500 to 2,000 samples daily.
On protests by Shiroda locals, he said, the people need not fear as these are asymptomatic patients and need no treatment.
On the Opposition’s demands of same SOPs for all travellers, including seafarers, he said, “The government is looking into the issue.”
