SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2024
Team Herald
PONDA: Sixteen COVID positive cases were detected in Ponda on Monday including nine members of a family from Sancorda contracting the infection.
With the detection of 16 cases at the Ponda Sub District Hospital on Monday, the tally of cases in Ponda has risen to 56.
Besides, the nine family members from Sancorda, a military staffer too have been infected with the virus. Three patients from Sattari tested positive at Sub District Hospital, while three others from a pharma company at Verna contracted the infection. It is learnt that two policemen also tested positive in Ponda.
Of the 56 positive cases detected, 29 include policemen and their relatives.
Meanwhile, local MLA Ravi Naik called upon the government to utilise its vehicles as ambulances to facilitate transportation of infected patients to COVID hospitals or borrow loans to purchase more ambulances.
He said, “There is need for ambulances since the cases are rising in Ponda. There is shortage of 108 Ambulance and only one ambulance is functioning for COVID patients. The government should use its vehicles as ambulances as these will help urgent transportation of patients.”
“Treating COVID patients is top priority and the government should not hesitate now to borrow loans to buy more 108 Ambulances. If it can borrow loans for salary why not for ambulances during this emergency,” he asked.
He said, “This is essential against the backdrop of rising COVID cases. Even relatives fear to use their vehicles for ferrying COVID patients. There was no ambulance on Monday to ferry two COVID patients in Borim since morning.”
He said, “A COVID patient is being treated at Shiroda Hospital. Sadly, his wife and six-year-old child also tested positive and they are residing at Borim. However, since morning they could be not be ferried to the COVID Hospital due to shortage of ambulances.”
“If the government uses its vehicles, the drivers and employees can be provided with PPE while on duty. He said COVID cases are rising at an alarming rate in Ponda. There is panic among the people and the government should adopt all safety measures at earliest,” he urged.
