The spread of COVID-19 has created a scare, but there is no cause for panic in the State. There is yet no confirmed case of the virus in Goa, but precautions should be taken to avoid the contagion from coming to the State. Even if there should be a positive case in Goa, it should not lead to taking drastic measures, as this can create fear that at the current moment is not required.
The State government has temporarily suspended biometric attendance in all its departments acting on the Union government’s suggestion so as to ward off the possibility of the spread of the novel Coronavirus, that has currently infected 62 persons in the country. The State will also provide masks to its employees to keep them safe from the virus. Further, the Centre has advised all States to step up hygiene and sanitation practices at bus terminals and public transport systems. It has advised that sanitation of seats, handles and bars in buses be undertaken to keep the infection from spreading further in the country.
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Goa has not had a single positive case, though a few patients were suspected to have contracted the virus, but blood test reports proved negative for the virus. There, however, are two more patients suspected to be cases of COVID-19 now placed in quarantine in the State. The results of their tests are awaited for confirmation and further treatment, or for their discharge in case they test negative for the virus. Both the persons who are currently in quarantine have returned to Goa recently from abroad – one from Italy and the other from Dubai, a factor that increases the possibility of them having contracted the virus.
The fear caused by the spread of COVID-19 has seen stocks of masks and sanitizers exhausted from the chemist shops in the State. However, the effectiveness of sanitizers in the current case has not been entirely proven. There are also reports that numbers of tourists has dropped. To repeat, there is no need to panic. The number of confirmed cases of 62, is a small figure for a country the size of India, but that should not stop the people from taking precautions. To deal with the spread of COVID-19, what one needs is a concerted effort directed by the Central government, that is followed by the States and the people. It is important that the citizens take the precautions as directed by the government, especially reducing travel to countries that have a large numebr of cases of COVID-19.
COVID-19 orginated in China, and until now in India, the positive cases have been of persons with a history of travel, including a group of Italian tourists. It is not advisable to react to any fever, cough or cold with fear, as the virus can be contracted only from a person who has been infected by it and there has been any contact with such a person. Yet, at the same time, the few precautions as advised have to be taken so as to ensure the virus does not spread.
As per the safety measures released by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the precautions to be taken are simple good hygiene practices that should be followed by people not just because the world faces the possibility of a pandemic due to COVID-19, but at all times. The measures include washing of hands with soap, covering the nose and mouth when sneezing and coughing, avoiding contact with persons showing symptoms of illness, avoiding contact with live animals. If the citizenry can follow all this, without panicking, then it should not be difficult to stop the spread of the virus.
