Amidst the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, health and administrative authorities in Goa have imposed strict preventative restrictions for travellers and locals alike. In addition to a full vaccination certificate, travellers will also have to produce a COVID-19 negative RT-PCR report as latest as 48 hours before entering Goa. Those travelling without the test report have to take a mandatory test on arriving, at their own expense. This test will cost ₹2,000.
Other COVID-19 restrictions in Goa
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Ahead of the assembly polls in Goa, the Office of District Magistrate and District Election Officer have issued an order on January 31 announcing all restrictions related to campaigning, rallying, and other such activities. They are as follows:
- No roadshows, pad-yatras, processions (on foot or transport) will be allowed before February 11.
- Public gatherings of political parties shall be allowed in designated open spaces. The strength must not exceed 1000 people or 50% of the venue capacity, whichever number is lower.
- Door-to-door campaigning cannot exceed the upper limit of 20 people.
- Indoor meetings must not exceed 500 people or 50% of the venue capacity.
- No meetings are to be held between 8 PM and 8 AM, on any campaign day.
- Participants of the election are to display COVID appropriate behaviour at all times during the campaigning events.
For civilians, all preventive protocols announced by the state as of January 8 will be followed as usual. People are expected to wear masks and maintain safe social distance, at all times when in public areas.
Vaccination drives and booster shots for Goans
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Like most of the states across India, Goa conducted a vaccination drive for teens aged 15 to 18 years in the month of January. About 72,000 shots were procured for this drive. Booster shots were also administered to the elderly, healthcare and frontline workers in January.
Reportedly, there are 78 active inoculation sites in Goa and as of date, a total of 26,06,387 COVID jabs have been successfully administered in the state. This includes about 13,86,048 first and 11,96,688 second doses of the anti-viral shot. This number also includes about 23,651 third booster shots of the vaccine, which is called precautionary shot in India.
