Public CompanyGoa to invoke Epidemic Act once tourist season starts: Rane
The Goa government today said it will invoke the Epidemic Act only when chartered flights, carrying foreign tourists begin to arrive in the coastal state, in September end.
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"We do not intend to invoke Epidemic Act at this point in time. But once the tourist season starts, we will put into effect this Act," State Health minister, Vishwajeet Rane, said here, after commissioning 30 new paramedics in the State Health Services.
"Maharashtra has invoked the Act because there are thousands of international guests arriving at its airport. We don"t feel it is required for Goa at this moment," he said adding all the guidelines prescribed by the Union Health ministry are being adhered strictly, to deal with swine flu.
The tourist season will bring in guests from across the world to the state, many of whom can be from Flu affected countries, Rane said.
Hence, the state government has asked for additional equipments to be installed at the airport to screen the patients, he said.
"I have spoken to Union Civil aviation minister Praful Patel asking for a scanner," the health minister added.
Goa receives around four lakh foreign tourists annually, mostly from European countries.