Tourists Now Throng Gangtok Even As Sikkim Is Reporting High COVID Positivity Rate
The new cases in Sikkim, however, have been detected at a positivity rate of 20.6%. The Himalayan state currently has 2144 active cases.
On Thursday, the Central government raised concern over certain districts reporting high COVID positivity rate. Calling for swift action to control the spread of infection, health secretary wrote to eight states, and Sikkim was one of them.
Tourist influx
And now, a day later, Gangtok in Sikkim has reported a huge tourist influx. "Tourists have started visiting the state in good numbers. If everything goes fine, in coming weeks, government will give more relaxation for revival of tourism & economy," said Kapil Meena, Additional Secretary, Tourism & Civil Aviation.
Sikkim | Gangtok sees surge in tourist inflow
¡ª ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2021
Tourists have started visiting the state in good numbers. If everything goes fine, in coming weeks, govt will give more relaxation for revival of tourism & economy: Kapil Meena, Additional Secretary, Tourism & Civil Aviation (08.07) pic.twitter.com/QFnXpSB4nv
This comes as Himachal Pradesh and its neighbouring hill state, Uttarakhand, have been witnessing a rapid rise in the inflow of tourists after the respective governments eased Covid-19 induced curbs in the states.
Restrictions eased
On 5 July, the state government of Sikkim lifted temporary ban on the entry of visitors from other parts of the country, stating people who have taken both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine can visit the state.
The Sikkim government had prohibited the entry of tourists since March this year following a surge in COVID-19 cases.
The state Home Department, in a notification, said that fully vaccinated tourists can enter the Himalayan state through Rangpo in East Sikkim and Melli in South Sikkim after exhibiting their vaccination certificates at the border check-gates.
ANI
The state government also allowed hotels, guest houses and homestays to operate at 50 per cent capacity with strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols.
Shopping malls, showrooms and shops have also been allowed to open at full capacity with strict compliance with safety guidelines.
All factories and commercial establishments are also allowed to operate at 100 per cent capacity provided the staffers are fully vaccinated, it said.
"The Sikkim Hotel and Restaurant Association (SHRA) welcomes the state government's decision to open the tourism industry, which is the mainstay of Sikkim's economy. We will ensure strict adherence to Covid guidelines," an executive member of the body told PTI.
COVID situation in Sikkim
Sikkim currently is one of the eight states that has the maximum number of districts with above 10 per cent positivity. Sikkim, on Thursday, logged 222 new COVID-19 cases and one more related death, the health department bulletin stated. The new cases in Sikkim, however, have been detected at a positivity rate of 20.6%.
The new cases took Sikkim¡¯s overall caseload up to 21,795. The Himalayan state currently has 2144 active cases.
19,082 people in the state so far have recovered from the disease.
Meanwhile, 257 coronavirus-positive patients have migrated to other states. Sikkim¡¯s recovery rate currently stands at 87.5 per cent.
Senior Writer at Indiatimes. She writes on Lifestyle, fashion, beauty, astrology and health.
