With a major spike in Covid-19 cases, the Himachal Pradesh government on Sunday made RT-PCR test mandatory for visitors from seven high-load states of Punjab, Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by the Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, here. The people from these high load states will be permitted into Himachal only if they have a 72 hour prior RT-PCR negative report while April 16 onwards.

The CM said all the SOPs and guidelines issued by the Center and state governments regarding to check the spread of coronavirus must be enforced strictly in the state, so as to contain the spread of the virus.

The booking of trip for manali , shimla and dharamshala now get affected due to news and more people are planning for another location where testing is not mandatory.

While summer is best season for himachal trip and people from all over india visiting himachal in April may and june month monthly. manager from one major hotel in manali saying “2020 is worst year for us and look like new rule will lead to say way for 2021 as well”.

Tourism is important biggest revenue source for this himalyan state, However covid-19 damage the business mostly. The reason of stringent rules of Covid is due to outbreak in a boarding school of dalhausie and increasing number of cases on most of the cities in few days.

Himachal had yesterday recorded the highest ever figure of 941 cases in a single day, during the second wave besides 12 deaths, forcing the government to impose curbs.

He said as of now the state government has decided to allow tourists to visit the state, but at the same time hotel owners and tourists should strictly adhere to the SOPs issued by the state government.

While laying the stress on twin strategy for testing, tracing and treatment with effective surveillance of micro containment zones, the Chief Minister said greater emphasis must also be laid on doing RT-PCR tests to achieve the target of 70 per cent RT-PCR tests.