COVID-19, informally known as coronavirus, is the new age pandemic that has a total number of global
cases surpassing 1,66,000 and counting, including more than 6,000 fatalities
across the world. It’s also being claimed that over 77,000 patients have
recovered and prevention and precaution is one’s best bet at being safe.
However, even as
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant announced a virtual lockdown of Goa closing
schools bars, pubs and casinos, many Goans
Have simple but important
requirements to safeguard oneself like a simple mask and hand sanitiser which
are not available in the market.
Public transport also
needs to be sanitised. And while people are keeping themselves abreast with the
global news, the work at home system is yet to begin earnestly.
Here’s what
concerned Goans had to say:
More attention must
be given to the transport department, where the public are using and frequently
touching surfaces that could be infected; these should be sanitised on an
hourly basis. The situation in the shipping industry has become worse due to
coronavirus as there are many crew members who are stuck on the ship without
any passengers. Some of the Goan crew are supposed to join back work but cannot
travel and many crew members are stuck at the airports as well. There are no
airlines operating to India. There is panic with one ship called Grand Princess
of Princess Cruises that has released the Indian crew to return home but they
are stranded in the USA with no means of leaving.
DIXON VAZ, President
of Goa Seamen Association of India
Coronavirus is
something completely new to all of us. We have never been in this situation
before. The government is doing well, I would say, at least theoretically. The
implementation is what will count and it is up to the people. It might all turn
out to be nothing in the end, but with the news coming from world over, it is
one risk we cannot take.
VARUN HEGDE, Founder
of Soul Travelling
What we can hope and
pray for is a testing facility in the state as early as possible and a vaccine
developed somewhere sometime soon.
Governments of India
and Goa have taken all necessary and timely steps to tackle this unprecedented
situation. As responsible citizens we should support all the measures
steadfastly. If you feel sick, stay home. Wash your hands with soap and then
wash them again. Stay informed but do not spread or fall prey to rumours. With
children and elderly, keep calm, carry on and get the flu shot. Don’t stockpile
masks but do stock up on groceries, medicine and resources
– DR AMOL MAHALDAR, Consultant
Nephrologist
We don’t have a
testing lab and we Goans are not exempt from the virus. However terrible the
situation might be with business, health is more important. It was a grave
error by the CM to allow Shigmo and even to keep casinos open for two days
after the shutdown notifications. Basic amenities like masks and sanitisers are
not available. I recently bought a bottle of 250ml sanitiser for Rs 680
– ARMANDO GONSALVES,
founder of Goa ForGiving
The Prime Minister
announced 10 million dollars to curb coronavirus but there is nothing enough in
the market. Especially in India, almost 80 percent of the people don’t care
about the pandemic. I would advise people to take precautions and use sanitiser
or clinical spirit and to use a handkerchief instead of a mask. The mask can
have your saliva, which helps spread the virus while a handkerchief is
washable. Have faith in God.
ALLAN VALLES, executive committee member, Chemists & Druggists
Association, Goa
