Leading industry body FICCI said on Monday that Indian and foreign carriers should be now be allowed to operate and the country should allow foreigners to travel to India on a reciprocal basis. While there has been a substantial easing of lockdown conditions in line with phase one and two, phase three remains a crucial decision for the country, it said.

 

FICCI said clear-cut dates should be announced by the states to open tourism, monuments, tourist attractions, hotels, restaurants and bars. All restaurants and eateries in a hotel should be allowed to serve the resident as well as non-resident guests at 50 percent sea

 

Permission should be granted for hosting all kinds of banquet and conference in the hotel. COVID-19 test before arrival is an expensive and inconvenient requirement which is there in some states.

 

This should be removed, said FICCI. Temperature checks, use of masks, and social distancing should, of course, be mandated.

 

Metro rail services may be opened. Stations at containment zones should remain closed and trains need not stop at these stations. Services may start with less than 50 percent capacity initially and could be gradually increased.

 

FICCI said the government may decide to open educational institutions and schools depending on the local situation of COVID-19 cases.

 

It also called for opening cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars, auditoriums, assembly halls, and similar places with proper safety and hygiene measures in place. 

 

Mean-while, With 49,931 people testing positive for coronavirus in a day, India’s COVID-19 tally crossed 14 lakh mark today, while the recoveries jumped to 9,17,568. The country’s death toll rose to 32,771 with 708 fatalities being recorded in a day. The fatality from COVID currently stands at 2.3% in India as compared to the global average of about 4%.

 

Total COVID19 positive cases stand at 14,35,453 including 4,85,114 active cases, 9,17,568 cured/discharged/migrated and 32,771 deaths, the health ministry said.

 

The recoveries on Sunday is one of the highest ever recoveries in a single day. 31,992 COVID-19 patients were cured and discharged in the last 24 hours. The recovery rate has now inched closer to 64%. The gap between active patients and recovered patients have crossed 4 lakh and currently stands at 4,32,454.