PANAJI: Health minister
Vishwajit Rane reacted to the Maharashtra government mandating a Covid-19 certificate for travellers from Goa, and called it a “joke”.
“Goa is having maximum problems because of people coming from Maharashtra,” he said. “Half of Mumbai and Delhi are in Goa. In fact, we should strictly be checking people coming from there. The Maharashtra government’s decision will come into force on Wednesday.
Since last month, Goa has witnessed a steep drop in Covid-19 infections and this month, case positivity has dropped below 100. Covid-19 mortalities, too, have fallen drastically.
Since Diwali, there has been a surge in tourist arrivals to Goa from Maharashtra and other states. Goa CM Pramod Sawant, in a tweet, said that he has directed the authorities to conduct thermal screening “strictly” at the airport & railway station entry points.
The movement of tourists within the state without following safety protocols has worried locals that the state may witness another spike. “I have already asked health secretary Amit Satija to have a strict protocol in place,” he said. “We will have to check people coming in from Delhi and other states, as they are witnessing a spike. The file will be moved for the chief minister’s approval shortly.”
Rane said he is all for testing people coming by flight. “We must compulsorily ask them to either get a covid-19 negative certificate or do an antigen test on arrival,” he said.
However, he said that checking everyone would be “logistically nightmarish” and that Goa should so thermal screening of those entering the state by road or rail.
Besides tourists, a lot of people from Banda, Sawantwadi and Dodamarg in Maharashtra visit Goa for work and trade everyday.