Uttarakhand makes it mandatory for tourists to carry Covid-19 medical report
Uttarakhand has decided to allow tourists from other states provided they bring along a Covid-19 negative medical report taken not more than 72 hours before their arrival. The tourists will not be quarantined on their arrival in the state.
However, till further orders, the Char Dham Yatra will remain closed for them as only residents of Uttarakhand are allowed to undertake this pilgrimage in a regulated manner.
The State’s Tourism and Culture minister Satpal Maharaj said, “We welcome tourists from other states to the Devbhoomi. We hope each tourist will bring the Covid-19 negative test report and enjoy the beautiful tourist destinations in the state. This will enable prevention of any contagion risk and also revive the tourism business in the state. Those working in the tourist sector will once again get employment,” said the minister.
The tourism secretary Dilip Jawalkar informed that all tourists coming from other states will have to upload their Covid-19 negative test report on the Dehradun smart city website while registering to visit the State. They will have to keep this report with them while on tour.
The tourists who do not undergo the Covid-19 test will have to book a minimum seven days in a hotel and after spending the first seven days on the hotel premises they will be able to visit any tourist spot in the state.
The hotel administration will have to ensure that those booking for a period of less than seven days have an RT-PCR test with Covid-19 negative result from an ICMR authorised lab not older than 72 hours before their arrival. Inter-district tourists will be free to travel anywhere in the state but they too will have to compulsorily register on the smart city portal.
Jawalkar said that guests from Uttarakhand and other states arriving to attend marriage function will not be quarantined on the condition that they will not visit any other place except the marriage venue. They will have to sign a self-declaration form.