Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has permitted the fully vaccinated workforce and Goa residents to enter the State with COVID vaccine certificates even in the absence of a COVID-19 negative certificate until the first week of August 2021.
HC has granted leave to Goa government for this till August 5 by way of ad-interim relief.
The categories which are allowed to enter the state are:
* The workforce, ie. persons who enter the State of Goa for purposes of work in industries, labour force, construction, etc.
* People who enter Goa for purposes of business.
* Residents of Goa who are now stranded outside Goa for the pandemic related or other such issues and residents of Goa who are required to travel for work, medical reasons, outside the state and return back after a few days.
The matter will be further placed for hearing on August 5, 2021 for clarification whether the State seeks entry of tourists (fully vaccinated) in the State without COVID negative certificate.
The Court specified that fully vaccinated meant that it should be two or more weeks since the beneficiary received the final dose of the recommended vaccine schedule, and such person should be asymptomatic.
The Court was hearing public interest litigation (PIL) filed by South Goa Advocates’ Association (SGAA) seeking various prayers connected with COVID-19 management in the State.
However, Covid negative certificate will be mandatory for tourists entering Goa for now.