PANJIM: With several health workers and their family members testing COVID-19 positive, the government has made it mandatory for health staffers engaged for COVID duty to stay in State provided facility.

Addressing media persons on Wednesday, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant lamented that only 70 per cent of health workers, including nurses and doctors, stay in government provided facilities, while the rest opt for home stay.

“Now we have made it mandatory for the frontline health workers, working in COVID hospital, COVID care and other COVID related activities, to stay in the facilities provided by us. We have made available hotels for them to stay,” he explained.

Sawant said that till date, total 19 health workers and 11 of their family members have tested positive for the virus. “These people are risking their lives to protect us,” he said.

The Chief Minister has also urged people not to discriminate against these people and to be proud of their work. “We should feel proud of our health workers. They are working for us…or the State,” he said.

He added that people should extend their full support and encouragement to the health workers and their families, rather than making them feel inferior.

All the cases of health workers, which are spread in Usgao, Sanguem, Adpai, Sattari, are related to containment zone Mangor Hill.

Meanwhile, Sawant informed that the government has identified 220-bedded COVID care centre at Verna, which will be taken over shortly.

“We have already put in operation public health centre at Shiroda as COVID care centre with 220 bed capacity,” he added.

Sawant added that the State with 32,194 tests so far, is highest in the country. The results of 1,098 reports are awaited. Also, he said that the mortality rate in the State is zero.

“I am confident that Goa will soon march into safe zone. The recovery rate is very good. Patients are recovering within seven days,” he explained.