Rising cases, SOPs hit tourist footfall in Amritsar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 11

The rising cases of Covid-19 coupled with the introduction of standard operating procedures (SOPs) to check its spread have made a dent in the number of tourists, especially outsiders, visiting the holy city.

Satnam Singh Kanda, who is running a hotel near the Golden Temple, said room occupancy in hotels, lodges, inns and stay houses in the walled city had come down considerably after the introduction of night curfew and the SOPs.

Room occupancy in hotels, lodges, inns and stay houses in the walled city has come down considerably after the introduction of night curfew and SOPs. Tourists from other states tend to stay here for two nights while those from within the state return to their native places the same day. Satnam Singh Kanda, hotel owner

The number of daily passengers, especially tourists, has come down after the introduction of the Covid-19 guidelines. Jagga Singh, Auto driver

On January 6, the Border Security Force (BSF) suspended entry of the visitors to the spectators’ gallery to watch the Beating the Retreat ceremony held every evening at the Attari-Wagah joint Check Post. This ban has also led to a dip in tourist and visitor arrivals, especially those coming from outside the state.

Kanda said the BSF took the decision following the latest Covid-19 guidelines issued by the office of the District Magistrate, Amritsar. Tourists from other states tend to stay here for two nights while those from within the state return to their native places the same day.

Auto driver Jagga Singh at the railway station states that the number of daily passengers, especially tourists, has come down significanty after the introduction of the Covid-19 guidelines.

Dist reports 455 positive cases

Amritsar: In a single-day spike, since the recent spike in cases, the district reported total 455 positive cases on Tuesday. With this, the tally of infections from the district increased to 49,412. Of the cases reported on Tuesday, 400 are new cases and 55 are contacts of positive patients. The district Health Department has also reported the recovery of 33 patients with which the recovery count increased to 45,960. However, the active caseload in the district is continuously on the rise and reached 1,852 on Tuesday. The district health authorities said testing has been increased to contain the spread of the disease. Meanwhile, 17,223 residents were inoculated during the ongoing vaccination drive. Of the 8,348 received the first dose, 8,875 received the second dose and 437 received the third dose of the vaccine. TNS

Tarn Taran logs 76 cases

As many as 76 persons tested positive for Covid on Tuesday taking the active cases to 272 in the district. The positive cases were being noticed since the arrival of the New Year. District authorities of the Health Department in a press statement on Tuesday appealed to residents to get vaccinated. The department also appealed to citizens who have been vaccinated with both dozes to take the booster doze after nine months of taking both doses. OC