02 Jun 2020  |   06:24am IST

Two test positive for COVID-19 in Vasco’s Mangor Hill

Four others found positive in TrueNat test, confirmatory test result awaited; After assessment, area may be declared a hotspot
Two test positive for COVID-19  in Vasco’s Mangor Hill

Team Herald


PANJIM: Goa reported local cases of COVID-19, after a fisherman’s  family from Mangor Hill in Vasco tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, on the first day of Unlock 1. While the test reports of the fisherman and his wife have been confirmed positive, in the case of four others, including their two sons and a daughter in-law who is pregnant, and a doctor, the TrueNat test found them positive, but the confirmatory test is awaited. 

Health Minister Vishwajit Rane confirmed that six people, including the family tested positive for the virus. The sixth person includes a doctor, who referred the patients to Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC). 

“The reports of two have been confirmed by GMC, while the confirmatory reports of other four are awaited,” Rane said, adding that other primary contacts of the patients have been scanned. 

Rane said that the fisherman, who is a fish seller, had come in contact with some people, from Andhra Pradesh.

He also said that the family is from Mangor Hill in Vasco and the government was declaring the area a containment zone. “We cannot say whether this is local community transmission or whether he got it from those people from Andhra Pradesh, with whom he came in contact with,” he said, adding that the government, after assessment of the situation, may declare the area as a hot spot. Rane said that the government is confident of bringing the situation under control.

“We have to understand that Goa cannot be isolated from the rest of India, which has reported over two lakh cases. Even then, we have restricted and controlled community transmission to a great extent,” he said.

The Minister advised people to be cautious and adopt measures like social distancing and wearing of masks. He also said that people, should inform the health authorities, if they come in contact with any non-Goan or recent travellers. 

As per the Health Bulletin issued by Directorate of Health, two people tested positive on Monday, while eight suspects are under hospital isolation. 

While the bulletin shows zero recovery, the Minister said that six people have recovered bringing down the active case tally to 23. “With patients recovering and being declared healthy, this gives us more strength and motivation to unitedly fight the menace of the virus,” Rane said. 

Confirmed cases as on date stand at 73, including Monday’s two confirmed. There are 22 domestic travellers and 18 international passengers under home quarantine and another 17 under facility quarantine. 

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Colva Police Station staff tested

The entire staff of Colva Police Station was tested for suspected COVID-19 infection after one of the constables attached to the police station tested positive on TruNat in the Mangor Hill. 

The worries increased for the government as one of those who tested positive is a constable attached to Colva police station. 

By evening two other police staff who came in contact with the constable were taken for tests. 

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3 more suspected cases in North
In a late night development, sources at Goa Medical College said that three more persons from Verla, Canca in North Goa had tested positive for COVID-19 via TrueNat test and the confirmatory test was awaited. The three persons of the same family had travelled to Goa from Maharashtra.

IDhar UDHAR

Idhar Udhar