The news of seven more positive cases detected in the State spread quickly on Wednesday, with netizens blaming the government’s lax attitude in case detection. A day later, another positive case was added to the number.
Goa had last seen a positive case on April 3, which means for 40 days there were no cases reported in the State as the authorities had implemented a strict lockdown. For this, credit must be given to the citizens for maintaining social distancing and following the guidelines. Goa was declared a Green Zone around May 19 when all seven positive cases were cured and the patients sent home after treatment and mandatory isolation. With air and rail traffic shut, it was always expected that the only way the coronavirus could return was through the porous borders of the State.
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Even though the State claimed that strict vigil and surveillance round the clock was being done, at the six border check posts, there were always loopholes ‘intentionally or unintentionally’ left. For starters, the State borders are not very well secured and people from the neighbouring States have managed to infiltrate through the forests, railway tracks and other routes, which were not thoroughly sealed by the Goa government. Besides, merely checking truck drivers with thermal guns was never going to prove satisfactory as a paracetamol tablet an hour before reaching the borders can nullify the thermal gun result. Apart from this, there are also allegations of corruption at the borders.
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant had announced that anyone coming to the borders will be tested at the spot and would have to wait at the check post until the results were out and only then allowed into the State. However, this assurance appears to have been for the media. There are hundreds of trucks entering Goa from the neighbouring States which are in the Red Zones, usually at night and as such no matter how much the security agencies try, they will not be able to thoroughly check about 300 trucks a day.
The Chief Minister was quick to tell the media that the cases are all imported and the people need not panic. However, one opines, if this is a condition today what will happen when inter-State buses, trains and flights begin to operate? Just a few days ago, the Chief Minister had announced that Goa will welcome tourists again and a standard operating procedure will be finalised in consultation with the Union Tourism ministry. With the seven positive cases the State has to rethink this decision on relaxing certain aspects of the lockdown even after May 17.
In the coming few days, Goa will see a surge in arrivals of Goans stranded abroad or in the country by trains, buses and ships. Around 500 people have booked tickets for the first train with the destination Margao, which will arrive on May 16. 800 seafarers are scheduled to come to Goa on a cruise ship, besides nearly 100 seafarers from Karnika have arrived.
It will be wise on the part of the government if a different mechanism is adopted for testing arrivals so that there is no threat to the locals from people arriving from outside. Also, sealing the borders completely is the need of the hour and allowing only very essential supply vehicles to enter. This is no time to indulge in blame games and all agencies of government, ministers as well as the opposition, and citizens must fight COVID-19 unitedly.
