PANJIM: The North Goa Collector on Thursday sealed a restaurant in the capital city after some staff tested positive for COVID-19 even as the restaurant owner claimed that the restaurant premises has been closed for renovation.
North Goa District Magistrate Ajit Roy in his order stated that the Urban Health Centre, Panjim has reported a large number of (Coronavirus) cases from the restaurant situated on the first floor, 18th June Road, Panjim and therefore under the provisions of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 read with The Goa Epidemic Disease COVID-19 Regulation 2020, the entire restaurant premises will be sealed with effect from March 18, so as to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the adjoining areas.
The Collector has warned that the failure to comply with the order will be violation of the previsions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and will be liable for punishment in terms of the provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
When contacted, the restaurant owner said that he has closed the restaurant for renovation and denied that it was due to staff testing positive for COVID-19.
However, it is learnt some waiters working in the restaurant tested positive for COVID-19 after a medical practitioner also situated on the first floor of the same building sent them to the Urban Health Centre to take swabs. Some of these staffers have now been moved to healthcare facilities for treatment while, others have been kept in quarantine.
