Goa govt allows bars to open shutters from Tuesday

PANAJI: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said that the state government will allow bar and restaurants to reopen from Tuesday.
While opening the bars the use of masks, social distancing and hand sanitisers continues to be mandatory, he told reporters. “They have to take precautions,” Sawant said.
Earlier, the All Goa Bars and Restaurant Owners’ Association (AGBROA) had approached the government with a request to reopen bars.
Since the Covid pandemic began, over 1,100 bars and restaurants serving alcohol are closed in the state, while retail and whole excise licence operators were allowed to reopen in May.
He also said that temples, churches and other religious places should follow the norms. “We have not taken any decision to restart schools in the state,” the chief minister said.
Reacting to opposition criticism on his statement about the rise in Covid cases due to Ganesh Chaturthi, Sawant said that he does not blame god for spread of Covid cases, but people have not maintained social distancing and that has resulted in spike in Covid cases. “I have not said that cases increased due to Ganesh Chaturthi.”