Team Herald
vasco: During a visit by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant outside the containment zone, Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida requested the CM to put Vasco under lockdown in view of the rising number of positive cases in Mangor hill.
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The CM reiterated his decision of there being no need to put Vasco town under lockdown and further added that this is a local transmission which can be contained by putting containment zone.
The CM also pointed out that at present there are no positive cases that have been identified outside the containment zone.
“All the cases identified are with the containment area but if there are any cases identified outside the containment area then the government might think about implementing partial lockdown (in Vasco) and the decision in this respect will be conveyed to the local administration,” he said, while referring to a scenario where cases emerge from areas not in close proximity to Mangor.
Post his visit, the CM tweeted, “In view of new cases of COVID-19 coming to light in Mangor Hill area, I visited Vasco today to take stock of the situation on ground. Stringent measures have been put in place and we are fully geared up to deal with the cases. Our frontline COVID warriors are doing commendable work in the area. I am monitoring the situation closely.”
He also chaired a review meeting to assess the steps that are being taken by the administration to contain the COVID crisis in Mangor where he emphasized that the govt is taking all possible efforts.
The meeting was held in the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) Hall and those present included Vasco MLA, Mormugao MLA Milind Naik, Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida, South Goa Collector Ajit Roy IAS, Deputy Collector Paresh Phaldessai, South Goa Superintendent of Police, Arvind Gawas, senior Police officials, MMC Chief Officer (CO), councillors, mamlatdars, and other administration officials.
He called for suggestions that could be implemented for better management of Mangor and surrounding areas of Vasco.
Sawant also instructed the Collector, Dy Collector and MMC CO to take the contact numbers of all the people in the containment zone and provide essential grocery items to each household in adequate quantity to sustain for at least eight days. He stressed on the need for it to be delivered urgently.
He said there is no connection between the MPT operations and the non-imposition of the Vasco lockdown.
He added that passengers coming from the trains via the Vasco railway station will be thoroughly checked with thermal guns, their swab samples will be collected and that sanitisation of the place along with all other necessary precautions will be taken.
Earlier, the CM toured the barricades outside the containment zone with the senior police officials. During this inspection, he interacted with DySP Raju Raut Dessai and enquired about the police deployment and technical aspects of the security arrangements.
Mormugao Police Inspector Paresh Naik informed Herald that the CM took keen interest in the safety norms and measures taken by them.
“He instructed us to take precautions such as wearing face masks, shields, gloves, use of hand sanitisers, keeping social distancing etc,” said PI Naik.
On a different note, the Chief Minister asked Vasco locals not to panic. He appealed to all to strictly follow social distancing, always wear masks, use hand sanitisers and to cooperate with the local administration.
Sawant also urged locals not to get tested simply without any symptoms as such a practice might increase the work load.
“If person are having any symptoms such as cough, fever, sneezing, sore throat etc only then he should immediately go to nearest government hospital and voluntarily get tested for COVID,” he added.
