Headed to Shimla for holidays? Know Himachal govt rules amid Omicron fears

Expecting a surge in tourists in the upcoming festival season amid the Omicron threat, Himachal Pradesh has listed guidelines for travellers to the hill state.

The state government has urged tourists to come to the state only after getting both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. The administration has been asked to check over-crowding at the popular tourist spots and ensure that people follow Covid protocols.

So far, no case of the Omicron variant has been reported in Himachal.

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Chief Minister Jairam Thakur, while speaking to news agency ANI, said, "Omicron is a matter of concern. Himachal Pradesh has done good work as far as Covid-19 vaccination is concerned. In a way, we can say that it is a fully vaccinated state. I hope that the variant will not have much of an impact on the state."

He added that a lot of tourists come to Himachal Pradesh on the occasions of Christmas and New Year. "We have asked the administration to regulate the crowd and do not let it get overcrowded. We have also urged tourists to come after getting vaccinated and follow Covid-19 norms."

India's Omicron variant tally rose to 168 on Monday after Maharashtra, Delhi, and Karnataka logged more cases of the new strain of Covid-19.