Waynad makes vaccination, negative RT-PCR mandatory for tourists
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Waynad: In order to promote safe tourism and contain the spread of the Covid 19 virus, Kerala's northern district of Wayanad has issued new guidelines for travellers.
Accordingly, travellers who are visiting Wayanad, a popular tourist destination in Kerala, will be allowed to stay only if they have taken at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccination or carry a negative RT-PCR test report.
The onus will be on resorts, villas, homestay and hotels to ensure that the travellers visiting their place follow these safety precautions.
An order issued in August by Wayanad district police chief Arvind Sukumar clearly mentions that those travellers who arrive at Waynad without vaccination certificates should be sent back by those who run the above facilities and also inform the police about this, along with the vehicle number of the tourists.
The Wayanad district police chief has also directed all Station House Officers in Wayanad to conduct random inspections at these facilities to ensure that the guidelines are being strictly followed.
Recently Vythiri in Wayanad became the first tourist destination in the state to be fully vaccinated as part of the State's Covid-19 vaccination campaign to turn all tourism destinations completely risk-free for visitors.
Vythiri is also the first-holiday destination wherein the entire population including tourism stakeholders have been vaccinated under the state government's inoculation drive.
Meanwhile, Kerala's COVID-19 caseload remains high. The state reported 22,040 cases on August 5 with a TPR of 13.49%.
Though the Kerala government had eased lockdown relations in the state on August 4, it has made it mandatory for people to carry a certificate of at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine (two weeks prior) or an RT-PCR negative certificate (72 hours prior) or results of showing recovery from COVID-19 one month ago to enter shops, markets, banks, public and private offices, financial institutions, factories, industrial establishments, and open tourist spaces.