PANJIM: In a major decision ahead of the commencement of the tourism season, the State government has given its nod to the recommendations of the Task Force allowing operations of casinos, cruises, spas and entertainment venues with effect from Monday. Schools too have been permitted to reopen subject to conditions.
Fully vaccinated adults (15 days after receiving the second dose) will be allowed to enter casinos and spa/massage parlours. Only casino vessels have been asked to ensure up to 50 per cent capacity.
The government order, released on Sunday evening, further allows schools to reopen subject to separate SOPs to be issued by the Education Department. The order implies that curfew restrictions have been lifted.
The Task Force during the meeting held on Saturday had recommended re-opening of casinos from Monday, with 50 per cent capacity. It had also suggested that only fully vaccinated tourists or those having RT-PCR COVID-19 negative certificate should be allowed to enter the casinos, which have been shut since March.
The experts were of the clear opinion that the government can go ahead with resumption of tourism activities while also suggesting that physical classes for Class VIII to XII can commence in October; only after assessing the situation.
In the order, the government has stated that casinos should adhere to all COVID-19 safety protocols including use of masks, sanitizers, thermal screening, etc. Entry for staff and guests who are asymptomatic and are fully vaccinated, possessing certificate of both doses of anti-COVID-19 vaccine through COWIN portal and 15 days gap since the last dose, are permitted. Those possessing RT-PCR negative certificates for the test conducted not prior to 72 hours from the time of the entry are also allowed to enter the vessels.
Similar rules apply for spa/massage parlours whereas auditoriums, community halls or similar places, river cruises, water parks, entertainment parks, cinema halls beyond 50 per cent of seating capacity also get a green signal from the government.
The order nevertheless mentions that Goa still faces the threat of the spread of COVID-19 virus and ‘therefore to take certain emergency measures to prevent and contain the spread of virus, the Government in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1987, read with all other enabling provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, it is expedient to enforce the certain measures throughout the State till further orders.’
For inter-state travel, a fully vaccinated certificate with 15 days gap since the last dose or RT-PCR negative test report taken within 72 hours of scheduled departure is still applicable.
With Kerala continuing to witness increasing cases of COVID-19 and a Nipah outbreak, the State government has emphasized that visitors from Kerala will be allowed with a negative RT-PCR report. Students and employees coming from Kerala will be subjected to five days institutional quarantine, arrangements of which will have to be done by the respective educational institutions and workplace.
“Arrivals from Kerala other than students and employees should produce the RT-PCR negative test report and should be in home quarantine for five days,” it stated.
Constitutional functionaries, health care professionals and their spouses, children below two years, in dire emergency situations, short term travelers (within three days) and passengers in transit from and to Kerala via any mode of transport are exempted from quarantine.
