As the pandemic loosens its grip over the sunshine state, the Goa government is stepping forward with amplified relaxations. After a long period of closure, restaurants and bars across the territory have been permitted to resume operations at 50% of their seating capacity, from today onwards. Though the statewide curfew stands extended till July 12, the administration has also allowed sports complexes, outdoor stadiums and salons to reopen from today.
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Earlier in the last week, the members of All Goa Bar and Restaurant Owners Association appealed to the Chief Minister to permit the revival of facilities. Troubled by the consequences of the long-standing pandemic halt, these businessmen and shop-owners were encountering issues related to 'psychological distress'. In view of their problems and the falling COVID numbers, the state government has now decided to allow the resumption of bars and restaurants.
Notably, one of the most significant propellers behind this decision is the dwindling positivity rate, which reached a mark below 5% in the past few days. When the state battled against the horrifying repercussions of the second wave, the same rate had towered alarmingly and breached the 50% mark. Amid these tough times, the government intervened with stringent lockdown measures, wherein the food and beverage centres were directed to suspend all in-house operations and only home deliveries were allowed.
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With 164 new cases and 202 recoveries reported in Goa on Sunday, the active case tally in the state shrunk to a count of 2,087 patients. While 1,67,436 individuals have been affected by the deadly virus in the state, 3,073 of these succumbed to the fatal contagion. Though the downward sloping infection curve brings respite for Goa, strict vigilance is the need of the hour if a further acceleration in cases has to be prevented.
- With inputs from IANS
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