SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: A day after a woman at St Inez bund tested positive for COVID-19, the health staff on Saturday conducted a massive swab testing exercise of the residents as the area was sealed on precautionary ground.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane informed that swab testing of the residents was held at Pharmacy College in the capital. “All health protocols are followed. We are here to keep Goa safe and are committed to the welfare of every citizen of the State of Goa, by taking all the precautionary measures to fight this war against COVID-19,” he posted on his Twitter handle.
The City Corporation has urged the people to not panic and remain indoors. “We are following the methodology of Taleigao MLA Jennifer Monserrate, who immediately sealed the area in Taleigao where a positive case was found, to control the spread of the virus. It worked wonders. On similar lines, we have sealed the St Inez bund area and nearly 110 people have so far been subjected to COVID-19 testing,” City Mayor Uday Madkaikar said in an over 2-minute video shared early Saturday morning.
He urged the people to not panic and to remain indoors to help the authorities fight the spread of virus. The Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP) has stepped up its efforts to ensure supply of all the essentials to the residents of the sealed area.
A building near Panjim fish market also witnessed a positive case resulting in the sealing of the structure. Madkaikar said that 35 persons who had been living in the building have been taken for testing. “Both the places (St Inez bund and building in the fish market) are sealed,” he said. The results of the swab testing are expected within a day or two.
In another instance wherein a beggar at Margao was tested positive for COVID-19, Madkaikar had urged the government to relocate beggars within the Panjim jurisdiction to a dedicated place and subject them to COVID-19 test.
