Naintal And Mussoorie Braces For Festive Rush, Mandatory Covid-19 Tests For All Tourists On Entry

After the Uttarakhand High Court order, tourists entering Nainital and Mussoorie will have to undergo mandatory Covid-19 tests.

Image (Photo by NOAH SEELAM / AFP)

New Delhi: The Uttarakhand High Court has ordered a mandatory Covid-19 test of tourists visiting Nainital and Mussoorie. In an order dated December 9, Acting Chief Justice Ravi Kumar Malimath and Justice Ravindra Maithani of the high court said tourists visiting the two popular tourist towns be tested for coronavirus at the time of entry in an attempt to keep a watch curb the spread of the virus during the festive season when a lot of people visit the area. Covid-19 cases have risen in Uttarakhand after the compulsory requirement for tourists to produce a negative RT-PCR report while entering the state was removed in September to boost tourism. The order to resume testing of tourists comes ahead of Christmas and New Year holidays when a large inflow of tourists is expected in Nainital and Mussoorie. Last month, the Uttrakhand police had announced that they will monitor people entering from different states. "Strict instructions are given to the policemen posted on the border check posts for proper checking and keeping the full details of people coming from other states to Uttarakhand," said Arun Mohan Joshi, Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Dehradun told ANI. The entry was only allowed to the people coming from outside states, especially from Delhi, at the Ashkrodi, Kulhan, and Pass Gate border check posts of the state only after undergoing the Rapid Antigen Covid-19 test. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data, there are 5934 and 1341 deaths have been recorded.