Gangtok: The Sikkim government has eased norms for tourists visiting the state by doing away with mandatory checking of documents like vaccination certificates and RT-PCR test reports at the border check posts with effect from Monday.
The in-bound tourists will not be required to show the documents like being vaccinated with a minimum of one dose of COVID vaccine or RT-PCR test report done 72 hours prior to entering the Himalayan state to officials manning the border check posts at Melli and Rangpo, a notification issued by the state government said.
Earlier, tourists were required to show vaccination certificates or RT-PCR test reports at the check posts before being allowed entry into Sikkim as per an earlier notification.
Instead of the check post officials, the onus has been put on travel agencies and hotels to keep the records of vaccination certificates and RT-PCR reports of the tourists and submit them to the authorities as and when required.
Similarly, contractors will be required to ensure compliance with safety protocols with regard to labourers being hired by them for work in Sikkim. The latest notification, issued on September 24 has further eased norms on the functioning of pubs, eateries, restaurants and shops in view of the ever-improving situation with regard to the prevalence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sikkim has administered the first dose of the Covid vaccine to 100 per cent of the eligible population of the state and both doses to 70.49 per cent of people.
