Team Herald
PANJIM: The State government on Tuesday withdrew Section 144 CrPC and decided to impose strict guidelines in the State to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection.
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The decision was taken at the State Disaster Management Meeting chaired by Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant. Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, Chief Secretary Parimal Rai and other government officials were present.
After reviewing the COVID-19 situation in the State following a rise in daily new cases, the meeting decided to impose heavy fines on those who don’t follow social distancing norms and are found roaming without wearing face masks from Wednesday. It also put restrictions on gatherings and decided to allow gatherings of 200 people in open places and 50 to 100 persons indoors.
Sawant said the Section 144 CrPC, which was clamped a few days ago as a preventive measure, has been withdrawn. Ruling out another lockdown in the State, he said that Goa being a touristic State the government cannot impose such restrictions and appealed to the people to cooperate with the law enforcing agencies to keep the COVID-19 pandemic under control.
The Chief Minister also urged the people to avoid overcrowding at public places and to strictly follow SOPs (standard operating procedures) including social distancing, mandatory wearing of face masks and use of hand sanitisers.
The State government has also sought special permission from the Centre to vaccinate people in the tourism industry who are below 45 years of age. An advisory will be issued to various industry and tourism-related associations asking them to get their members vaccinated.
The Chief Minister also appealed to those getting infected and having symptoms to immediately get admitted in hospitals.
According to Sawant, Goa has sufficient vaccine stock with around 1.5 lakh vaccine doses being available for use. Of the 4.5 to 5 lakh people above 45 years in the State, around 1.13 lakh people have completed their first vaccination dose till date.
Currently, vaccination is being done at 62 places including 37 government vaccination centres and 25 private centres across the State on all days, including Sundays and public holidays, he said.
Due to the increasing number of daily new coronavirus cases the meeting decided to activate the COVID centres at Dr Shyamaprasad Mukherjee indoor stadium, Bambolim and the Nehru stadium, Fatorda as COVID wards in Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim and South Goa District Hospital, Margao were full.
