SOPs will be followed on Christmas, New Year celebrations: Director Tourism

Srinagar: Director Tourism Kashmir, Dr Fazlul Haseeb on Friday said the Covid SOPs will be followed in forthcoming Christmas and New Year celebrations across Kashmir.

As per, the Director Tourism said “We will ensure all Standard Operating Procedures will be followed strictly which includes social distancing, use of face masks etc on Christmas and New Year celebrations”.

Notably the union government on Wednesday raised alarm on resurgence of Covid19 pandemic and has directed all States & UTs to gear up the genomic sequencing of affected patients. The Ministry of Health has also issued an advisory to all States and UTs and asked them to take requisite preventive measures for the safeguard of people. The decision was taken after a new variant of Covid19 pandemic emerged in China and other parts of globe.

Keeping the situation into account, Director Toursim Dr. Fazlul Haseeb said we will be having winter carnival in Gulmarg tomorrow followed by new year celebrations in Pahalgam where all SOPs will be followed.

“Covid is not a new thing for us. Already there are guidelines issued by the administration which however will be followed religiously. There will be no compromise on social distancing and use of face masks”, he said.

To a query he said till celebrations of New Year are over, the department will concentrate on offbeat destinations which have already been identified. (KNS)