SATURDAY, MAY 04, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: The surge in the COVID-19 cases in Goa, resulting in an increase in the requirement of oxygen, has compelled the State government to ban the supply of oxygen to other States with immediate effect.
The decision, taken to accommodate the local requirements, was announced on Saturday morning by Health Minister Vishwajit Rane.
“In view of the rising COVID cases in the State of Goa, the requirement for oxygen has gone up. Export on oxygen cylinders outside the State has therefore been banned with immediate effect. All the industrial oxygen requirements will be diverted towards the health services, Goa Medical College and COVID-19 hospitals. Necessary directions have been issued to Secretary Health to coordinate with the respective Collectors to issue an order under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 in the public interest and to save people’s lives,” Rane said in his post on Facebook
Goa’s tally of COVID-19 infections reached 66,261 on Saturday after the addition of 762 new COVID-19 cases and four deaths in 24 hours, taking the tally of deaths to 872.
Neighbouring Maharashtra, which tops the list of States with COVID-19 infections, has already reported a shortage of oxygen in several parts of the State.
Goa has also reported a shortage of beds across hospitals, including government hospitals treating COVID-19 patients. There have been instances wherein patients are lying on the floor with doctors attending to all patients. “There is a huge rush of patients every day. We are not denying admission of patients but with no beds, they have to be on the floor till we find one for them. Our doctors are nonetheless attending to all the patients,” a GMC doctor said. Beds in other hospitals, including in ICUs, are also filling up fast.
Rane said that the government will increase the bed capacity to 50 beds in Asilo Hospital, 550 in South Goa District Hospital and ESIC will be converted into a COVID-19 hospital with ICU and ITU facilities.
The decision was taken subsequent to a discussion with the Health Secretary, Health Services Director, GMC Dean and as proposed earlier and discussion with Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant. At present, Goa’s first COVID-19 hospital – ESIC Hospital – is functioning as a COVID-19 care centre in absence of required facilities and additional staff.
The Health Minister has also decided to replicate the ITU and ICU facilities with enhanced facilities at SGDH. The ITU facility will also be extended to sub-district hospital Ponda to be used as COVID-19 hospital.
As suggested by the CM Sawant, Rane said, Primary Health Centre Shiroda will continue to operate as COVID-19 care centre in addition to Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium, and two other locations.
