The Goa government has tweaked its standard operating procedure (SOP) for people entering the state during the coronavirus pandemic. The Goa government has now given people an option to quarantine at home for 14 days without testing.
The decision follows the increased movement of people to and from the state, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Monday. Goa CM said that testing everyone would create nothing but a backlog of tests.
“Almost 2,500 test results are pending. We are conducting 1,500 to 2,000 tests per day which will continue, but we have to change the standard operating procedure for arrivals,” Sawant said.
“Persons entering the state can opt for 14-days home quarantine and their movements will be monitored through the local representatives so that they do not mingle during the period. People can also opt for a paid quarantine if they do not wish to go home or the third option for those who are coming to the state only for a few days and do not wish to quarantine themselves is to take a swab test by paying Rs 2,000,” the CM added.
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All the people, however, arriving in Goa from whatever route, will be thermal scanned at the airport, railway station and more. The ones with symptoms will have to take a compulsory test.
Earlier it was mandatory for all to get tested. However, with lockdown being eased, it is nearly impossible to test everyone moving in and out of the state.
Goa currently has 292 COVID-19 patients with 0 fatalities.
