No interstate public transport for another month: Goa CM Pramod Sawant

PANAJI: A day after the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) issued new guidelines, chief minister Pramod Sawant said that Goa would not permit interstate public transport for at least another month. He also said that bars in the state would not open, and that a decision on hotels is yet to be taken. Malls and restaurants, however, will open from June 8, he said.
“We will not allow interstate public transport for at least a month (more),” Sawant told TOI, adding that detailed state guidelines would be issued on Monday. The CM said that the state would follow most of the guidelines issued by the MHA. “When bars are not mentioned in the MHA guidelines, why should we (permit them to) open?” he asked. “We have to strictly follow MHA guidelines.”
As per the MHA guidelines issued on Saturday, religious places/places of worship, hotels, restaurants, malls, hotels and other hospitality servies will be permitted to open.
Last week, Sawant had requested the Union government to allows the state to open malls, gyms and restaurants if the lockdown continues beyond June 1. Sawant made the request to the Centre during a telephone conversation with Union home minister Amit Shah. “We want the Union government to consider our request, but let us see what relaxations they give,” Sawant had said.
Sawant had said that though the government wouldn’t allow hotels in the state to open, the proposal to open restaurants is in the interest of the public. “When most establishments are open, where will they (staff, employees, etc) eat? Hence, we want to allow restaurants and tea shops to open but follow social distancing norms.” Bars and pubs, however, will not be allowed to open, he had said
Before Lockdown 4.0, the state government had suggested to PM Narendra Modi that the interstate movement of people should continue to be restricted. He said that if interstate public transport is allowed, there is a possibility of many Covid-19 positive cases entering Goa