TUESDAY, MAY 07, 2024
DHIRAJ HARMALKAR
VASCO: New COVID-19 variant B.1.1.529 ``OMICRON" named by the World Health Organisation(WHO) recently has come as a nightmare to the world knocking on our doors. World leaders and organisations feel that it's time to roll up their sleeves and keep up the fight to defeat CoVID19 pandemic.
People feel that the government should take proactive steps to prevent the Omicron variant before entering Goa. Lockdown is not an option but strictly following of COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) may surely be going to keep this Omicron at bay, say Goans.
Goans feel it is high time that State government should intensify and tighten up the SOPs related to COVID-19 because "prevention is better than cure". Some govt officials were inquired about the steps departments are planning to take, the officials said that this time they will be extra cautious and will strictly implement the SOPs to avoid outbreak of COVID19 variant.
Savio Correia, environmentalist and a lawyer from Vasco said that govt authorities must keep a tab on Goa-bound international travelers and should gradually start putting in place the preventive measures, COVID-19 SOPs. Public gatherings in closed places etc need to be avoided. He further said that people and the government should not panic. More data from the authentic sources about the new Omicron variant should come out and accordingly the steps could be taken. “I am not in support of Lockdown" he added.
Xencor Polgi, Goencho Ekvott member said that there needs to be checking at the Goa borders. “Govt should not think of lockdown as people have already suffered enormously during the lockdown economically as well as mentally. Preventing infection and safe practices is the only mantra," Polgi said.
Bharat Kamat, Entrepreneur from Vasco urges all to complete double vaccination as till many people have not completed the course. “Lockdown is not a solution as per my view,” said Kamat.
Health Officer of Sub District Hospital Chicalim, Dr. Anil Umraskar, also advised that people who are not following the hand sanitization, social distance, etc is risky. “Presently it’s a must for each one of us to continue following COVID-19 appropriate behavior, if we want to avoid any infection.”
Lorenco Dsilva, of Dsilva Consultancy from Cansaulim said “Only way it can come to Goa is via travelers, which means RT-PCR tests, and other checking at the borders, Dabolim airport etc should happen.”
Director General of Police (DGP), Indradev Shukla, said, “Right now we have not received any direction from the Health Department and we are waiting for the protocol. The general protocol which was earlier given is being followed". "We are also advising tourists, travelers to wear mask, do sanitization etc,” he added.
Chief Public Relations Officer of South Western Railway, Anish Hegde said “Previously, the State govt in Goa was doing checking of the travelers; SWR was just facilitating the process. He mentioned that SWR did not received any guidelines.
