PANJIM: A lady from Taleigao was booked by Agassaim police on Wednesday after a hoax call by her to Goa Medical College sent shivers down the spines of Goans as she claimed a patient in quarantine had tested positive for COVID-19.
It was a day of confusion and fake news, as Goa messages on COVID-19 kept getting circulated on social media. At the same time, six more persons were isolated at e GMC, while one was discharged. No reports have been positive.
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Health Minister Vishwajit Rane announced at 12.17pm that a Norwegian national, isolated at GMC, had tested positive for corona virus. “I want to announce to media that Goa has registered its first corona virus positive case. A Norwegian national who had been to Delhi and Meghalaya had landed in Goa on February 20 has tested positive. GMC has made all arrangement and will do everything needed,” he said on the official whatapp group.
As the news spread within minutes, the Health Minister issued a clarification claiming it was a hoax call. “There is no positive case, it was a ‘hoax’ call to GMC doctor Dr Edwin Gomes who is HoD Medicine. The caller had claimed she was from the testing laboratory,” Rane announced at 12.36pm, within 19 minutes of the earlier announcement.
Addressing media-persons in the evening, Rane apologised for the error and said that henceforth a standard protocol would be followed while announcing a positive case if there is one. “It was an error and we have to be more careful. I apologise for this,” he said.
GMC Dean Dr Shivanand Bandekar said the hoax call was made to a doctor and the number has been traced. “We have lodged a complaint with the Agassaim police station. The number has been traced to be of a lady from Taleigao,” he said.
There were several fake messages being circulated on the day as that of a person testing positive for the virus in Porvorim. Local MLA Rohan Khaunte called a press conference and refuted the rumours.
A national television channel was also a victim of fake news as it reported that “Home Minister Vishwajit Rane” had tested positive for COVID-019 even as he had addressed a presser an hour earlier.
Rane also announced that a new virology laboratory will be set up at Goa Medical College within 15 days. “This will reduce time in action and treatment of patients,” Rane said.
He said the State is on a war footing on the COVID-19 issue. “We are on the verge of setting up a virology lab in GMC. A private company has approached us to set up lab in 15 days,” Rane said.
Rane also refuted reports of shortage of masks and sanitisers. Govt has procured over 1 lakh masks and sterilium, he said.
Rane said that the Health Department has suspended visiting hours in all government hospitals including GMC. “Visiting hours have been suspended for few months, besides leaves of all doctors and staffers have been cancelled,” he said.
Rane further informed that the government will set up isolation wards in private hospitals.
