Team Herald
PANJIM: The State witnessed an increase in the number of COVID fatalities in October with 50 persons succumbing to the deadly infection as compared 45 deaths reported in September. On an average October reported 1.61 deaths per day.
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It may be recalled that the State reported 54 deaths in August and 93 fatalities in July.
The highest number of deaths in a single day was reported on five different days. Thirty-five deaths were reported between October 7 and 21. However, the figures dropped to seven deaths between October 22 and October 31.
However, the number of COVID cases in October dropped further as compared to the previous months.
The State saw October recording a total of 1,684 COVID cases at an average of 54.32 cases per day.
It may be recalled that 2,476 COVID cases were reported in September, 2,809 cases in August and 4,457 cases in July.
October also witnessed 2,131 patients recovering from the infection. This figure amounts to 68.74 recoveries per day.
It may be recalled that September reported 2,452 recoveries.
All these figures are however, not as alarming as what the scenario was during the second wave and during the months of April, May and even till June.
What has been reassuring to the public is that the number of active cases in the State has dropped below 400 for the first time in several months and stood at 352 on Sunday, October 31.
The number of persons taking COVID tests is still on the higher side, between 2,300 and 3,500 on an average.
Moreover, the daily COVID positivity rate has also oscillated between 1% and 2% and has not gone above 3%. Health officials attributed the low positivity rate to the successful vaccination drive across Goa.
It may be recalled that during the peak of the second wave, the daily COVID positivity rate had touched 50%.
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Mixed response to mega vaccination drive: Dr Borkar
PANJIM: State Immunisation Officer Dr Rajendra Borkar said the mega vaccination drive organised by the State Health Department has received a mixed response. This drive that is being organised at nearly 260 centres across Goa aims at vaccinating over two lakh people in the State with the second dose.
It is pertinent to note that the second dose of COVID vaccine is due for over two lakh people in Goa who have completed the 84-day period as directed. Despite the extensive State-wide drive, only 14,259 persons were vaccinated on Sunday, a mix of first and second dose.
As on Sunday, nearly 21.70 lakh vaccination doses have been administered in Goa.
“The total number of people vaccinated in Goa with the first dose of COVID vaccine are nearly 108 % of the eligible population figure while 78 % have been vaccinated with the second dose,” said Dr Borkar.
It may be recalled that Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant had set October 31 as the deadline for 100 % COVID vaccination of the eligible people. The date has now been extended to November 15.
