SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will take over crucial areas of the State in view of the ongoing lockdown orders.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, addressing the media at his official residence on Saturday, said that two companies of CRPF, comprising 240 personnel, will patrol areas and take action against defiant individuals. The two platoons will be in addition to the existing police force on duty.
“CRPF would be patrolling the highly sensitive areas to ensure that the people don’t break Section 144 of CrPC, which is imposed as a part of the lockdown. They will be given a free hand to take action against people violating the lockdown orders,” he said.
A war room has also been set up in the newly built Conservator of Forests Office at Altinho to monitor the situation across the State.
The CM also expressed disappointment that people continued to rush to grocery shops despite orders for their operation round-the-clock. He also observed that people are rushing to buy items like fish and mangoes by violating social distancing norms. “This is dangerous. We should not violate social distancing norm. We may go to buy mango or fish but will come back with coronavirus,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said the condition of the three patients who had tested positive is stable. “The samples of those people who had come in direct contact with them have been sent for testing and we are awaiting the results,” he said.
Besides, 798 people have been home quarantined across the State and they will be under the scanner of officials to ensure they do not venture out of the house during the quarantine period. Meanwhile, the State has formed a team of senior officers to look into the complaints pertaining to quarantine and misuse of home quarantine facility by those who are stamped.
He also said the new virology lab at Goa Medical College and Hospital will start delivering reports from Sunday. The lab began operating on an experimental basis on Saturday.
For stranded tourists, Sawant said that tourism department officers are roped in to ensure that tourists stranded at different hotels are provided accommodation and food at subsidised rates.
