Team Herald
Vasco: The first day after Mangor hill was cordoned off as a containment zone, around 200 swab samples were collected for testing for COVID-19 by the Health department staff.
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After COVID-19 positive cases were detected from Mangor hill on Monday, the government administration swung into action and sealed the Mangor hill area, by restricting access into the area.
On Tuesday morning, the medical team, that followed all precautionary measures and wore Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) suits, took the oral swabs from people living in the containment zone.
Mormugao Deputy Collector, Paresh Faldessai explained that the medical team is focusing on the swift investigation of other potential cases in the area through their actions and added that 200 swabs had been collected.
Speaking about delivery of essential items to the families in the containment zone, Faldessai said that people will be provided with a helpline number, where they can call and order such items, which would have to be paid for.
Locals in the area, speaking to Herald via the phone, said that they had purchased essential commodities that could sustain only for three to four days and are worried about how they will manage post that as they have not been informed about any arrangements that have been made.
They reiterated that the government should step up the efforts to provide them essential commodities free of cost.
Other locals were worried about how their livelihoods will be affected, especially those who are unable to work from home and earn a daily wage.
They also pointed out that there is no ATM in the containment zone to allow people to withdraw cash to purchase food items.
On that note, they felt that the government should undertake outreach efforts to look into such problems faced by the locals in addition to restricting movement and carrying out testing.
“Swab collection is underway in Mangor hill area, which has been cordoned off. However, if there is a spike in the number of cases, then Vasco will also have to be in lockdown mode,” said Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida.
