PANJIM: In what could further spell doom to Goa’s struggling tourism industry, Goa’s Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Friday just dropped short of calling for a ban on “mass gatherings” in the State.
“I am not saying this, but the Union Health Ministry has issued an advisory to avoid mass gatherings in wake of the 31 cases of the positive cases reported for COVID-19 outbreak,” Rane said while addressing a press conference in the city.
With Rane’s statement there is also a cloud of uncertainty over the organisation of the traditional Shigmo festival in the State next week.
“I don’t want to say anything. I have said what was discussed in the video-conference meeting with the Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Wardhan. Shigmo is a traditional festival which involves lots of sentiments but we have to also accept that these are trying time and Goans are very intelligent themselves to understand,” he said when asked whether Shigmo will go on as per schedule.
Rane further said that the State being a prominent tourist destination it has to be more cautious of the disease spreading.
“I have told the Union Minister for asking the Airport Authority of India (AAI) and Mormugao Port Trust (MPT). We need a clear control over things for screening tourists,” he said though the AAI director is very co-operative the Health officials are not getting access as and when required. “There has to be some flexibility in rules,” he said.
He said Goa has still not reached a stage to panic as in North Indian states.
“We do not need to panic as of now like closure of schools and colleges. However, we need to take preventive measures,” he said.
Asked about the condition of patients admitted at GMC, he said, “two of the patients quarantined have tested negative and discharged, the other two foreigners one Britisher and a Nepali are still admitted and we are awaiting reports,” he said.
Rane further said that the State is also awaiting the thermal scanners to be installed at the airport and railway stations.
“We have got six thermal guns out of these four are used at the airport and two at the port but we need thermal scanners for which we have sent a request to the Centre,” he said.
About the screenings at railway stations and bus stands, he said, that needs to be done but the priority is air passengers.
“We have not got any instructions for screenings at the railway stations, though the possibility of infection spreading there is quite high since the virus has already hit Jaipur and Delhi,” he said adding “the State will take all required precautions.”
