02 Jul 2020  |   05:45am IST

1 more succumbs to COVID-19

Four patients on ventilator says Minister; 72 new cases reported
1 more succumbs to COVID-19

Team Herald


PANJIM: As the State recorded its fourth COVID-19 death, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Wednesday said that four other coronavirus patients are on ventilator support. 

A 66-year old male from Taleigao became the fourth victim of COVID-19 as the virus continued to spread. The man had been admitted in the hospital, four days back, with co-morbid conditions. 

On Wednesday, 72 fresh cases of COVD-19 were reported. As the virus continues to spread, frontline workers like the police, are getting infected. On Wednesday, five police personnel, including a Police Inspector, attached to Ponda Police Station tested positive. The police station is currently shut for public. 

The virus scare has reached Camrabhat in Taleigao that reported four cases from a single family – husband, wife and two children. A fresh case has also been reported in Shiroda. 

Addressing media persons, Rane said all the four deceased were suffering from other ailments like asthma, diabetes, respiratory illness along with COVID-19. “Such patients become susceptible to COVID. And it becomes difficult for them to fight the virus,” he explained. 

The Minister said that there are four more patients who are on ventilator at the COVID-ESI hospital, Margao. “They are been monitored,” he said, adding that all other active cases are stable and the recovery rate is very good compared to other parts of the country. 

Rane said that though the mortality rate is low, government will still see how best it can be controlled. “We will have to work to ensure morality rate is under control,” he said. 

Stating that July is going to be crucial, the Minister said the government will have to adopt stringent measures to curb the spread of virus. 

He admitted that with inter-State movement there was always possibility of a spike in COVID cases and its further spread. 

The minister said he is in touch with his counterpart in Kerala, Health Minister KK Shailaja, to adopt some of the best practices put in place by the State to curb the corona spread. 

Rane said that all the 40 MLAs will have to work as “Team Goa” rather than just being affiliated to some party, to combat COVID-19 pandemic. “This is not the time for political scoring. We need to work as Team Goa. Time to keep aside political affiliation and work to keep Goa safe,” he said. 

The daily health bulletin reported that of 2,002 samples tested for COVID, 72 were declared positive on Wednesday, while 1,433 were negative. The results of 497 reports are awaited. There are 16 suspects in the hospital isolation. At the same time, 74 positive patients were declared cured. 

With this, as on date, the active cases in the State are 713, while 670 patients have recovered. The State has recorded 1,387 confirmed cases since January 29. 

On Wednesday, 421 inter-State domestic travellers and 33 international passengers were placed under home quarantine, while 13 are under facility quarantine. 

Also, 329 people are quarantined at various residencies and hotels. 


IDhar UDHAR

Idhar Udhar