Covid-19 hospital needed in Vasco
Goa recorded 40 more patients testing positive for Covid-19 on Thursday with 32 of these from the Mangor Hill hotspot in Vasco where massive ‘local transmission’ has come to light posing a great challenge in containing the dreaded virus. The state’s tally of active cases climbed sharply to 109 nearly half the capacity of the Covid hospital at Margao, the only facility where all positive cases are admitted for treatment.
As several people are yet to be tested at Mangor Hill, there is (God forbid) every possibility that this number could rise. The strain on the Covid Hospital at Margao could rise in the coming days if there is an increase in the number of infections. In view of this it would be prudent for the authorities to have a Covid-19 dedicated hospital at Vasco city or in it’s vicinity as well. Private hospitals in the port town could be romped in as a standby to treat Covid-19 cases in case there are more spikes in the number of positive cases reported in Mangor Hill and even Vasco city. This will reduce the number of patients being treated at the Covid hospital at Margao which could reach saturation point any time. It is always pays to be prepared in advance and at the same time hope that the number of positive cases does not increase.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Everlasting man-animal conflict
Many of us might have encountered the puzzle – what came first, the chick or the egg? If we say that the egg came first, the rejoinder would be, who laid the egg, and if we say that the chick came first, the response would be how can there be a chick without the egg, reverting to square one. Looking at the ever prevailing man-animal conflict we may be tempted to question – who came first, the man or the animal?
Needless to say, it is the animals who dominated the earth originally and man has only evolved from the monkey millions of years ago; though of courses the dogmatists force us to believe that man has been created out of a clay model. For hundreds of thousands of years when the earth was all green with thick forests it is the animals that dominated on this planet but as millennia rolled by and human civilization progressed through leaps and bounds, the animals were forced on their back foot and had to be subjected to the whims of man.
What essentially were once the absolute habitats of animals were overpowered by man forcing the animals to fend for themselves and steadily it became a routine thing for the animals to encroach upon human habitats and the conflict between man and animals multiplied and keeps surfacing frequently. What happened in Kerala during the last week of May when a 15-year-old pregnant elephant allegedly ate a pineapple filled with firecrackers that exploded in her mouth and the poor animal had to struggle for two days with injuries before lying dead in a water body has sent shockwaves everywhere.
It is said that the locals are in the habit of stuffing the fruits with explosives to get rid of the wild boars that trespass into human dwellings and destroy the crops. It looks that efforts are being made to protect the locals that they did not intentionally feed the elephant with the explosive laden pineapple and possibly they might have resorted to the step to keep away the wild bores disturbing their livelihoods. Further, the statement made by the former Union Minister and Animal Rights Activist Maneka Gandhi that the area which is dominated by a minority community is known for its violent activities has fuelled communal disharmony. The matter should be thoroughly investigated to avoid such cruelties to any animal.
Michael Vaz, Merces
Strict steps to keep Goa in Green Zone
Our learned Government should learn from their mistakes and act fast before it is too late after the incidents being reported at Mangor Hill and Calangute area.
Our Government has asked any Goan entering from other states to opt for three options: Pay Rs.2000 and undergo COVID 19 test, stay home quarantined for 14 days and produce Covid Negative certificate from authorized lab by ICMR which is 48 hours prior to the travel.
It would be advisable that anyone entering Goa after their checking at the entry points should be compulsory quarantined either at home or paid quarantined as it is learned, that those entering Goa who are tested negative later are reported positive.
We Goans to remain in Green Zone had made tremendous sacrifices by staying indoors almost for three months but with the entry of outsiders today there are more then 100 cases reported. This shows that the entry points are not properly monitored or those asked to stay quarantined are moving around.
Those entering Goa especially from Red Zones should be prepared to face hardships at the entry points and undergo Covid test or else stay where they are and save the rest of the population of Goa.
Anthony Fernandes, Assagao
Black Floyd
The protests in the USA reveal how even the so-called advanced countries are unable to live their Constitutional duties. The horror at the cruel murder of a coloured man in Minneapolis will be felt by every Indian. But that may be because we identify ourselves as ‘coloured’.
In our own country such similar crimes happen every day and we do not even blink when they occur. It is not only our police forces which are involved, but you and I. We tend to discriminate on ethnicity, creed, colour, caste, economic capacity ,whatever. You name it we have it. Our Constitution has a little preamble which all should be made aware of. Even the unschooled. If we abide by it, we would be the most beautiful country in the world.
Carmo Costa – Viegas, Assolna
