Goa will strictly adhere to 21-day lockdown guidelines: CM

Team Herald

PANJIM: Stating that Goa will strictly adhere to the 21-day lockdown guidelines, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant has appealed to tourists, stranded in the State, to continue their stay in the hotels, where they are currently housed, during the lockdown period. 

Sawant has also requested Goans staying outside the State, not to travel back during the ongoing period as a precautionary measure against COVID19 outbreak. 

Addressing media persons after holding high-level review meeting on Wednesday, Chief Minister said that there are several domestic as well as international tourists, who are stranded in Goa since last few days. “We appeal them to ensure that they don’t move out of their hotels and continue their stay. We will also issue directions to the hotels, to ensure that their visitors stay indoors,” he said. 

“We have directed the Tourism Department to collect the information on number of tourists stranded in the State. Through, FRRO, we had already sought applications for visa extension. All precautions will be taken to ensure no one leaves the State,” Sawant said. 

“Similarly, Goans, who are outside, are requested not to travel to their hometown during the lockdown period,” he said. 

Asking people to strictly adhere to the 100 percent lockdown guidelines, Sawant said, “No one should complain if police take strict action against those shops and establishments which are open despite lockdown and also those who are roaming on the roads with their vehicles.”

The Chief Minister said the police have been given powers under Epidemic Act to act against all those violating the rules. “We need to understand the seriousness of the situation. As responsible citizens, it becomes duty of each and everyone to support government in its fight against coronavirus,” he said. 

Earlier, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, who was part of the meeting, said that government would effectively implement the Epidemic Disease Act to ensure that there is complete lockdown in the State. 

“We need to understand that this is a nationwide health emergency and we cannot ignore it. Health and safety of the people is uttermost duty of the government and we are working in that direction,” he said. 

“Government, through police, will strictly act against those violating the lockdown norms, under the Epidemic Act,” Minister said.