Puri: Amid the COVID-19 crisis, tourists and visitors travelling from one district to another are facing major difficulties in hotel accomodation under increased pressure from hotel owners to furnish a COVID-19 test negative report in fear of the police personnel.
However, Puri Collector Balwant Singh Wednesday declared that the tourists no longer need to produce a COVID-19 negative report for staying in hotels.
“They can stay at the hotels by producing their reservation ticket of the hotel only”, added Singh.
An order issued by Puri district administration read, “It is hereby clarified that any person coming from another district/states to stay in hotels located in Puri Municipal area is required to produce the reservation ticket of the hotel at NAKA points instead of COVID-19 negative report.”
In the order the district collector directed all Tehsildars-cum-Incident Commanders along with the IICs of the respective police stations to ensure strict implementation of the order without any deviation.
The collector took the move following a allegation by some police personnel stopping tourists from entering the town if they didn’t furnish COVID-19 negative report.
PNN