The escalation of the virus in different countries and the lack of a remedy is frightening. Can it be cured at all? No one knows. The only measure that can be taken is to avoid the spread of the same. Therefore, the risk element is very high. Measures should accordingly be taken with this high-risk level in mind.
What is the risk for Goa? Goa is a well-known tourist place and therefore it is very likely that infected people from China and affected countries, both tourists and Indians working there, will come to Goa almost immediately. Further, these same people, when they visit their home states, can spread the virus to others, who then come to Goa as tourists. It is well known that foreign tourists to Goa often first visit Thailand and then Goa.
Health advisories say to maintain hygiene. Is it possible? Considering the high-frequency of spitting in India, this is impossible. Screening of all Ports of entry has been put in place: on paper only. Does Dabolim has a temperature scanner? Not yet. From the SARS time we know that the only such scanner at Dabolim was shifted to another airport while the local Govt. maintained a strict silence. Hence, powerless local Ministers in front of Central and neighbouring States, is another real risk. What about bus stands and Railway Stations?
Even during SARS time there were no such scanners. Keep in mind that the virus is transmitted- no body yet knows by what means- even when the person has no high temperature. Hence, we need to keep tabs of all tourist handling agencies who need to compulsorily report all the batches they have sent to affected countries in the last 10 days. It is better that all Casinos publicly ban those of their clients who visited such countries in the last 10 days. If not, the Government is only gambling with the lives of people, including tourists.
Allocation of separate wards at the GMC and Chicalim has been done. Can the level of hygiene demanded to contain this virus be attained in these hospitals? The answer is a definite no. What are the risks involved? We are forming a suitable environment to further propagate the virus, should it reach these hospitals, to interior places of Goa and surrounding States where health and cleanliness is even more wanting.
China built a new Hospital to contain this virus in 6 days. Is it because of space constraint? No, they have the most knowledge on the virus and found the need to truly isolate such patients from the mainstream. Goa already has the South Goa District Hospital completed but for a few points. Can Goa commission the same in 6 days? Is this not the right place to isolate and treat suspected patients? Is the risk level not high enough to justify this? Why are we waiting?
The Government must publicly announce at all ports of entry that people coming from affected countries must report the same to the authorities at that point. The risk level is so high that it even justifies the Government to declare that anyone failing to do so will face appropriate action for endangering others.
Lesson learnt: instead of Swaach Bharat we need to work on banning public spitting first.
