DW BUREAU / chandigarh After allowing the entry of tourists to visit Himachal Pradesh, about 700 tourists visited the State in the last five days. The department of Tourism and Civil Aviation has issued the standard operating procedure (SOPs) for opening of tourism units in the State. Secretary, Tourism and Civil Aviation Devesh Kumar stated that before framing the SOP for opening of tourism units in the State, the Tourism department has examined the SOP of other states who have also opened the hotels for tourists in their respective State. Devesh Kumar further stated that as per the advisory issued, the tourists who wish to visit Himachal Pradesh have to adhere to the guidelines issued by the state government. They have to register themselves on covid-19 e-pass.hp.gov.in web portal before 48 hours visiting Himachal under tourist category. The tourists have to carry COVID test certificate (RTPCR) issued by ICMR certified laboratory with negative report and this should not be more than 72 hours. In addition, the tourist must have downloaded Aarogya Setu App on their mobiles. Director Tourism and Civil Aviation Yunus stated that at the entry points of the State, the medical report, confirm booking of minimum five days duration in registered tourism unit of Himachal Pradesh, registration on www.covid19epass.hp.gov.in portal, Aarogya Setu App of tourists is being checked by the district administration and these documents are again being checked at the tourism units by the staff. These measures are being adopted for the safety of tourists and others peoples at the destinations. He said that the department has planned the training schedule on safety and hygiene for the tourism stakeholders, tourism units staff etc., in the State, in view of the COVID-19. Four more people tested positive for COVID-19 in Himachal Pradesh on Saturday, taking the total number of coronavirus cases in the state to 1,176, officials said.According to Additional Chief Secretary (Health) R D Dhiman, three of the fresh cases were reported from Kangra and one from Hamirpur. The new cases reported in Kangra include a 50-year-old man from Basa village, who had recently returned from Sangrur, and a 65-year-old man from Gharjarot in Jawali, who is a contact of a COVID-19 patient, said Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Prajapati. Besides, a 37-year-old man who was brought for checkup to Medical College Tanda by police from Una district was also found positive for coronavirus, Prajapati added. The virus has so far claimed 10 lives in the state, while 875 of the infected people have recovered, 13 migrated out of the state, officials said. Three more patients -- one each in Una, Kangra and Chamba -- recovered from the infection on Saturday, Dhiman said. The number of active COVID-19 cases in the state now stands at 276, he said. Solan has the highest number of active cases in the state at 74, followed by 50 in Kangra, 44 in Hamirpur, 22 in Una, 28 in Kinnaur, 15 in Shimla, 14 in Bilaspur, 10 in Chamba, eight in Mandi, five in Sirmaur, three each in Lahaul-Spiti and Kullu, Dhiman said. With a record single-day increase of 27,114 cases, India's COVID-19 tally zoomed past the eight-lakh mark on Saturday, just four days after crossing the seven-lakh post, according to the Union Health ministry data. The total coronavirus caseload in the country surged to 8,20,916 on Saturday while the death toll climbed to 22,123 with 519 people succumbing to the disease in 24 hours, the updated data at 8 am showed. This was the eighth consecutive day that COVID-19 cases in the country increased by more than 22,000. The rise in the number of coronavirus cases has gained pace significantly. It took 110 days for the number of cases in the country to reach one lakh but just 53 days more to race past the eight-lakh mark. It took 64 days for COVID-19 cases in India to rise above one lakh from 100, and another fortnight to cross two lakh on June 3. It took 10 days for the tally to touch the three lakh-mark and another eight days for the cases to climb above four lakh on June 21. In another six days, the total tally raced past the five-lakh mark. Then it took 10 days to cross seven lakh. The total number of recovered patients has crossed the 5 lakh-mark on Saturday, the Union Health ministry said. (editor@dailyworld.in)