Considering the prevailing threat of Covid-19 at tourist destinations due to increasing crowd to celebrate the New year, tourism directorate of Maharashtra has issued SOPs for proper care and precautions to be taken by the tourists and other stakeholders including staff at these destinations outside containment zones.

Similarly, the state government has also issued guidelines for the new year celebrations and visit to the religious places on the eve of the new year and on the first day of the new year.

It was reported that Tourism Director Dr Dhananjay Sawalkar has directed the district collectors and municipal commissioners to act in accordance with the SOPs at tourist destinations.

According to the SOPs and guidelines the police department, local bodies, district administration and the representatives should form Covid-19 teams to implement the guidelines like preventing the crowding at tourist spots, taking decision about the permissible number of tourists at a time, controlling the groups and guided tours and also to control special or private programmes.

Tourists are told to do as much as online booking wherever it is possible for visiting these spots.

Use of masks, sanitizers and following social distance and entry prohibited to the persons above 65 years and children below 10 years, pregnant women, persons with serious ailments are the usual mandatory restrictions.

At the same time Relief and Rehabilitation Department of Maharashtra Government has also issued a set of guidelines for new year celebration. The department has urged the citizens to keep the celebration a homebound affair. It has also advised people to avoid gathering in large numbers at public places like beaches, gardens and famous streets.

The government has strictly prohibited any type of religious or cultural event and processions on the occasion of New Year. Besides, it has banned the use of firecrackers and asked citizens to abide by the rules of prevention of noise pollution. The departmemt has also asked people visiting religious places on the first day of the new year to avoid crowding and maintain proper social distance.

Meanwhile, In Maharashtra, 2,498 new Covid-19 cases were reported on Monday, taking the cumulative total to 19,22,048.
According to the state health department, 50 deaths were reported in the state taking the tally of deceased to 49,305.

Case fatality rate in the state is 2.57 per cent. On the other hand, the health department data revealed that 4,501 patients were discharged taking the tally of such patients to 18,14,449.

The currrent recovery rate in the state is 94.4 per cent. The active caseload in the state is 57,159. Out of 1,25,43,772 laboratory samples, 19,22,048 have been tested positive (15.32%) for COVID-19 until today. Currently 4,52,535 people are in home quarantine and 3,138 people are in institutional quarantine.