Goa may emulate its neighbours Karnataka and Maharashtra and make it mandatory for air travellers to either carry a Covid-19 negative certificate or get themselves tested at the state's Dabolim airport on arrival, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said on Monday.
The Health Minister said that his ministry would put the proposal before the Chief Minister for approval soon.
"There are several neighbouring states such as Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka who have made it mandatory for people from Goa flying into those states to carry Covid-19 negative certificates without which they don't allow them entry into the states," Rane said.
"We need to make Covid-19 negative certificates mandatory for people from other states, which already have such restrictions. The trouble has started in these states. They have put us in trouble. I am personally in favour of testing at the airport and on arrival. The proposal will be put before the Chief Minister for approval," the Health Minister also said.
Amid more than 100 daily cases being reported on more than one occasion over the last one week, Rane said that Goa faced a spike in the number of Covid-19 cases, especially in view of the sloppy observance of SOPs in public areas, while urging locals as well as tourists alike for following Covid-19 related norms.
"As a Health Minister, I feel there should be restrictions on the number of people at restaurants, functions and weddings," Rane said, adding that the Food and Drugs Administration had been directed to take strict action against restaurants and public eateries where Covid-19 SOPs are not followed.