Team Herald
PANJIM: Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Saturday announced that Goan students studying elsewhere in the country can return to the State with prior permission from the District Magistrate.
Addressing the media over a video, a new initiative by the CMO, the Chief Minister said that students will have to undergo mandatory quarantine. “Students can come to Goa after taking permission from Collector and undergo mandatory quarantine,” CM said. He stated that he understands the pain of the family and the students who are away.
The Chief Minister also said that from Monday the Patradevi and Keri check posts will collect samples for COVID tests. “Right now we are only dependent on thermal guns, but we will soon start rapid tests at check posts to rule out any threat,” he said.
Sawant said that with the easing of the lockdown by the Centre, economic activity has slowly started. “The shops have opened and industries have already begun operations,” he said.
He ruled out the opening of liquor shops in Goa stating the MHA guidelines do not permit them. “Even e-commerce facilities are only for essential goods,” the CM clarified.
While public transport remains shut, the CM said he wants to restart the ferry services on some routes. “We are looking at starting some ferry routes, for public ease,” he said.
The Chief Minister, meanwhile, has urged the people not to use surgical masks as they are not properly disposed. “People should use only homemade cloth masks and even pharmacies must not sell surgical masks,” he said, adding that there is proper disposal procedure for these surgical masks, as this is not being followed by the people.
On whether the State would go for lockdown extension, he said, “On April 27 there will be video conferencing with PM to draw the future course of action. Only then I can say something.”
