Dharamshala, 24th June: From July 1, Himachal Pradesh will no longer use the e-Pass system for entry into the state. On June 23, the Himachal state cabinet decided to phase out the e-pass. In addition, the government has permitted interstate buses to operate at 50% full. Also, all the temples in the state will also reopen from July 1 with COVID protocol in place. The Himachal Pradesh administration recently announced that no RT-PCR test reports will be required for entry into the state. The state has also authorized religious sites to reopen, although followers must adhere to all social distance standards.
In terms of social gatherings, only 50% of the entire interior capacity will be allowed, with a maximum of 50 persons. A maximum of 100 persons would be permitted for outdoor gatherings. The state’s businesses will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and restaurants will be allowed to stay up until 10 p.m. Tourists flocked to the hill station earlier this month once the state’s COVID-related restrictions were lifted. Hundreds of cars were seen on the highway leading to Himachal Pradesh, causing a traffic jam. The decision to end the e-pass comes as a welcome relief to the state’s hospitality industry and hoteliers, who had been struggling under the COVID-19 lockdown.
AIIMS Chief Says COVID Third Wave Inevitable
While several scientists have warned that a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic might strike India in the next months, AIIMS head Dr. Randeep Guleria has claimed that the third wave is “inevitable” and could strike in the next six to eight weeks. Despite the fact that India’s COVID-19 caseload has been on the decline since a disastrous second wave’ between April and mid-June, with states resuming normal operations after weeks of stringent lockdown restrictions, a probable ‘third wave’ of infections has entered the scientific and popular conversation. Following the relaxation of limitations across India, there is a shortage of COVID-appropriate behavior, according to Guleria, who said that the country’s biggest challenge is vaccinating a large population. READ MORE
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