Sikkim allows fully vaccinated tourists to visit state, issues new guidelines- Read here

Representational Image (Credits: PTI)

New Delhi: The Sikkim government on Sunday (July 4, 2021) allowed individuals who have taken both doses of the COVID vaccine to visit the state from July 5 as the government lifts the temporary ban on the entry of visitors from other parts of the country. The decision comes following a dip in fresh coronavirus cases in the state.

The entry of tourists into the state was prohibited since March this year following a surge in COVID-19 cases. 

Sikkim government, in a notification on Sunday, said that fully vaccinated tourists can enter the Himalayan state through Rangpo in East Sikkim and Melli in South Sikkim after exhibiting their vaccination certificates at the border check-gates.

Additionally, the authorities also allowed hotels, guest houses and homestays to operate at 50 percent capacity from today with strict adherence to COVID protocols.

As per the fresh guidelines, shopping malls, showrooms and shops have also been allowed to open at full capacity with strict compliance with safety guidelines.

All government offices can function with fully vaccinated employees, while staffers who have not yet received both the jabs can work with the present arrangement of 50 percent attendance, the notification said.

All factories and commercial establishments can also operate at 100 percent capacity provided the staffers are fully vaccinated, it said.

"The Sikkim Hotel and Restaurant Association (SHRA) welcomes the state government's decision to open the tourism industry, which is the mainstay of Sikkim's economy. We will ensure strict adherence to COVID guidelines," an executive member of the body told PTI.

Meanwhile, Sikkim's COVID-19 tally rose to 21,131 on Sunday as 176 more people tested positive for the infection, a health bulletin said. The state's coronavirus death toll remained unchanged at 308 as no fresh fatality was reported. The recovery rate among coronavirus patients in the state stands at 87.4 percent.

(With PTI inputs)