[ad_1]
Indian authorities fear that a surge of tourists to the mountainous cities of the Himalayas runs the risk of feeding new outbreaks of Covid-19 while warning of a possible summer resurgence of the virus.
Indians have resorted to popular mountain retreats such as Shimla, Manali and Mussoorie in recent weeks to escape the hot summer heat and make the most of the recent drop in the number of coronavirus cases in the country, after a devastating second wave of the virus this year.
Much of the country, including tourism-dependent mountain states, they are reopening and local authorities have encouraged domestic travel in hopes of limiting the severe economic blow from prolonged closures.
But officials, who have warned that India could face a third wave in the coming months, it was said that crowds of tourists could jeopardize this hard dismay as some parts of the country continued to struggle with high rates of coveted positivity and increased transmission.
India’s Interior Ministry raised the alarm on Saturday about “a blatant disregard for Covid’s proper behavior at hill stations and other tourist sites.” VK Paul, the head of India’s Covid-19 working group, said on Friday that there was “a new risk” in the exit from tourism activity.
At the height of the second wave in May, India recorded more than 400,000 infections and 4,000 deaths a day – both figures were thought to be inadequate – in a brutal wave that overflowing health systems.
The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who clashed fierce criticism for complacency and for not having avoided the attack, he has tried to assure the public that he is preparing for the potential for a resurgence in the cases.
Although the official daily balance of cases has fallen to close to 40,000, some parts of India are struggling with renewed transmission. Maharashtra, the richest state in India and home to the financial capital Mumbai, has again imposed some closure measures, while the southern state of Kerala recorded an increasing number of cases.
The Interior Ministry said the rate of positive tests in some parts of the states, such as West Bengal, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, which are home to popular mountain refuges, have exceeded their 10% threshold.
Images of maskless crowds filling scenic spots and congested mountain roads have caused consternation. Police said they had returned 2,000 cars en route to Mussoorie, a tourist destination in Uttarakhand, according to the local Hindustan Times newspaper.
From India tourism industry it is about to reach disaster, however, with international tourists in force banned in the country since the start of the pandemic.
The government announced several relief measures last month, including loans secured to guides and tourism companies, many of which are facing financial ruin.
Experts said the dangers of a third wave were worsening with the slow pace of vaccinations, with India continuing to face the scarcity of punctures with which to inoculate its population.
Since reaching the one-day vaccination record of 8.6 million in late June, the number of doses administered daily has dropped from 4 million.
Latest news on coronavirus
Follow FT’s live coverage and analysis of the rapidly evolving global pandemic and economic crisis here.
[ad_2]
Source link
