PANAJI: Minister for science and technology Michael Lobo on Monday said nightlife in Goa should continue to remain out of bounds until the Covid-19 situation improves.
He also said that if the state decides to reopen the tourism sector, it would have to be with strict adherence to norms as tourists would begin arriving in droves akin to what was witnessed six months ago.
Lobo’s statements come a few months after he had said that enforcing health protocols for tourists would deter them from visiting the sunshine state.
“If you make SOPs stricter and you harass tourists, which tourist will come to Goa? We have to take precautionary measures, but at the same time, you cannot stop business because Covid-19 cases are increasing,” he had said in March.
The popular Baga-Calangute party hub — which Lobo represents as MLA — subsequently emerged as the biggest hotspot of Covid-19 infections in the state, according to a study conducted by the Goa Medical College in April.
The minister, who had earlier dismissed the need for Covid-negative certificates for people entering the state, on Monday made a case for the exercise.
“Covid-negative certificates are essential for people checking into hotels.
In fact, once tourists arrive at a hotel, they should be tested for the virus all over the again.
Protocol must be followed if the government decides to open up the hotel industry after June 15,” he said.
“We used to say that the economic condition would be bad (if economic activities were stopped).
Exactly that has happened today, but life is more important,” Lobo said, even as he called for relaxation of the curfew in the phased manner from June 14 and predicted that it would take one year for the economy to get back on track once it reopened.
“We have to see what happens till June 14.
The chief minister and committee will then decide in the interest of the state…once we see Covid-19 clearing in India, economic activities will start in the state and not before that,” he said.
Lobo also suggested that vaccination against Covid-19 should be made mandatory in India even as he rued that when he tries to convince people to take the jab, they say that it is entirely their choice if they choose not to.