There is a lot of uncertainties due to this pandemic, and a lot has changed. People have lost jobs, put a halt on their business, they are unable to meet their family members due to travel restrictions, and more. However, in most parts of the country travel restriction and bans has been lifted off. And tourists are now able to enter even without a negative COVID-19 test result. Compared to other larger cities, Uttarakhand is a safe place to travel, as there are fewer positive cases. Now let’s learn more about the Latest News About Travel in Uttarakhand.
There are three major conditions for anyone traveling Uttarakhand during this pandemic. It includes getting an ePass, having a COVID-19 negative test report, and getting the ArogyaSetup app downloaded on your phone. And if you are traveling to Rishikesh, you will have to show your documents and registration at different checkpoints.
COVID-19 Test Report- Travelers going to Uttarakhand are required to have a COVID-19 negative test report, or else they will be quarantined. So, if you are traveling, the more convenient option is to get a negative test result from your city and then travel. And the negative test result should not be older than 72 hours. The test report should be from the RT-PCR test report from an authorized lab.
ePass- Getting an ePass is mandatory if you want to travel to Uttarakhand, unlike the COVID-19 test result. And to get the ePass, you need to register on their website, provide your contact detail, and other particular such as where you are traveling from and where you will be staying. Since there’s a limit to the number of ePass allowed every day, you need to obtain it ahead of time.
Quaratine in Uttarakhand- If you do not have a negative test report, you will have to be quarantined. And if you’re coming from a region with a high number of positive cases, a minimum of 14 days quarantine is mandatory. And as for those coming from low coronavirus cases zone, a minimum of 14 days home-quarantine is required. You also need to set up the Arogrya Setu app to find out if you are coming from a high or low COVID cases region. Senior citizens, pregnant women, and children under the age of 10 are exempted from the institutional quarantine.
Can You Travel Without A Negative Test Report?
Yes, you can travel without a negative test report, but you will need to exercise self or institutional quarantine. The negative test report is only needed if you do not want to be quarantined or you are visiting Uttarakhand just for few days. And if you are also planning to visit a few other places, getting a negative test report will be beneficial. If you are traveling from the Green Zone, you do not need to book an institutional quarantine center.
Can You Travel By Bus?
Yes, it is possible to travel by bus, but it will be a lot of hassle. Since traveling in public transportation is not safe at the moment, and other state transport buses are not allowed inside Uttarakhand. So if you are traveling from a different state bus, it will drop you off at their border, so you will have to get off, walk for a while and then catch a different bus. Another issue here is that it is difficult to get busses now, as the frequency of bus moving is low at the moment.
If you are traveling to any new place, make sure to be informed on the Latest News About Travel in that certain region.