Tourism activities should continue but maintain social distance: Goa CM

PANAJI: A day after social media was flooded with videos of people flouting rules and SOPs at Saturday night parties, chief minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said tourism activities should continue by maintaining social distancing.
“At this moment when tourism has just started, instead of holding parties, they should carry on with tourism activities by following social distancing,” Sawant told reporters, adding that the home department will issue instructions to them to maintain social distancing.
The photos and videos which circulated on social media show locals and tourists violating all norms set by the Centre and state government, as well as cautionary advise by public health authorities.
Goa is one of the few states that has removed all restrictions for entering the state and is fully open for business, tourism and leisure.
Reacting to the viral photos and videos of parities, health minister Vishwajit Rane on Sunday called for action against these club owners, including cancellation of licences.
This is not acceptable,” Rane had said.
“The licences of these clubs should be cancelled. I will be meeting the chief minister and my recommendation is that these nods should be cancelled for violation of the Epidemic Act, which is in force. Every permission given to them should be withdrawn.”
On one side, doctors and healthcare workers are putting their lives at risk to save the people of Goa, and on the other hand, these youngsters are being encouraged to go to nightclubs where there are all kinds of violations, and no SOPs are followed. This is taking the law for granted,” Rane had said.