Hoteliers demand Covid testing facility in Manali Civil Hospital

Tribune News Service

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Mandi, September 12

Manali hoteliers have reiterated their demand for a Covid testing facility at the Civil Hospital, Manali, with immediate effect to ensure safe tourism.

As the hoteliers of Kullu-Manali are going to open hotels for tourism activities from October 1, they want better medical care facilities for tourists in view of the rising Covid-19 cases in the state.

The hoteliers told The Tribune that they were receiving inquires from tourists regarding health facilities in Manali. Due to this, they were concerned about the health facilities available in the town to deal with the tourist influx.

Anup Thakur, president of the hoteliers association Kullu-Manali, said, “It is understood that we have a District Covid Care Centre for Manali subdivision at Kullu but no proper facilities are available there to deal with emergency cases. Also, there is no facility for the stay of the health workers.

“We urgently require confidence-building measures on ground so that the tourists as well as local people feel safe when tourists start coming to the valley. The most important step would be to make testing facilities available at Manali,” he added.

“It is requested to consider establishing an ICMR-affiliated lab at the Civil Hospital, Manali, and to establish a District Covid Care Centre at an appropriate location where all facilities could be provided,” said Thakur.