With 2022 just setting in, two notable things have been on the
rise, namely, the omicron variant of the coronavirus, and apparently, the footfall in Goa. A recent video clip of a road near Goa’s Baga beach has gone viral on
the internet, with the street packed with thousands of tourists.

Goa, a popular
tourist destination for young couples and families, has been the perennial
go-to spot. The state brings in tourists from across the world, especially
during Christmas and New Year. This year, too, despite the agonising surge of
Covid cases, thousands of tourists took off to Goa for a beachy retreat,
increasing the COVID-19 positivity rate in the state by a whopping 10 per cent
on Sunday.

The viral video
posted on Twitter by a user named Herman Gomes has amassed hundreds of likes
and retweets, with many concerned Twitter users being appalled by the congested
scene in the video. Gomes captioned the video, “This is a royal welcome to the
Covid wave. Mostly tourists.” Another user wrote, “Welcoming the New Year
or the third wave?”

Undeterred by newly
imposed restrictions, Goa continues to be one of the most crowded tourist
spots in the country, with tourist arrivals on a rise since December.

Also Read: In pics | India welcomes New Year 2022 amid Omicron scare

 In the past 24
hours, Goa has had around 388 people who have tested positive for the virus,
according to data published by the Health Ministry. The tally has reached
a whopping 1,81,570 cases, with one death increasing the toll to 3,523.

Also Read | Vaccinated John Abraham, wife Priya Runchal test COVID-19 positive

Beaches, pubs, nightclubs,
and casinos have been some of the most crowded spots in Goa of late, with
hundreds of tourists celebrating the New Year.

 State
authorities have directed casinos, restaurants, and hotels to only permit those
guests who furnish valid vaccination proof and negative test results.