Gangtok, July 05: Sikkim will again welcome tourists with inter-state movement being allowed from Monday. The relaxation is allowed for those fully vaccinated and after the submission of RT-PCR negative report at Melli and Rangpo check-posts. The relaxation is applicable till July 12.
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.
The new guidelines state that all hotels, guest houses, and homestays will be allowed to operate with 50 percent capacity with COVID-19 protocols. Malls, showrooms will be permitted to operate with COVID-19 protocols.
The movement of passengers boarding or returning from Pakyong or Bagdogra airports and New Jalpaiguri Railway station in West Bengal will be allowed on the production of journey tickets and negative RT-PCR reports conducted within 72 hours of arrival.
All state government offices including PSUs, different boards, corporations under the state government will work with 100 percent attendance with those employees who have received both doses COVID19 vaccine. Other employees may be permitted to follow the present arrangement of 50 percent attendance.
Similar relaxations have been granted to factories, production units, and commercial establishments.
All vehicles, including private cars, taxis, and two-wheelers can ply with odd-even stipulations. Pillion riders will now be allowed in all two-wheelers.
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The state’s tourism industry bore a loss of around Rs 600 crores last year due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown.
A total of 21,131 people have tested positive for the infection in the Himalayan state so far, of whom 2,101 are undergoing treatment, while 18,469 have recovered from the disease, 308 have succumbed to the infection, and 253 have migrated to other states till Sunday, a health department bulletin said.
