PANJIM: A day after the Indian Council of Medical Research (IMA) certified virology path lab was launched at Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC), the facility developed a ‘technical snag’, forcing the State to revert to the Pune testing laboratory. On Tuesday, 55 samples of patients, who have been quarantined for suspected COVID-19, have been sent for testing to Pune.
The government also decided to use 30 per cent of the Goa Iron Ore Permanent Fund, which works out to approximately Rs 120 crore, towards fighting the Coronavirus spread in the State. The total fund allocation for COVID-19 management including hospital is Rs 172 crore, including earlier sanctioned Rs 52 crore from the District Mineral Fund (DMF).
Addressing media persons on Tuesday, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said that the virology lab at GMC developed a technical snag due to which testing of 55 samples could not be done. “We have sent all the samples to Pune for testing. Report is expected tomorrow (Wednesday),” Sawant said.
“Experts are currently working on identifying the error and putting the facility in place. Things would be resolved latest by tomorrow,” he said, refusing to elaborate on the nature of the error.
Further, stating that no new positive cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the State, Sawant said that all five patients, who are currently admitted in the COVID hospital in Margao, are stable and recovering.
In an important decision, the government has decided to stamp the houses of the home-quarantined passengers, he said. “We are not isolating them but making people aware that this house is under home quarantine for 14 days. It is just a precautionary measure,” he explained.
The Chief Minister said that the government, in consultation with stakeholders, including mining companies, has decided to utilise 30 per cent of the Goa Iron Ore Permanent Fund, towards the COVID hospital and management of the pandemic. “The amount comes to around Rs 120 crore. With this, the total fund raised is around Rs 172 crore,” he said.
Sawant said that directions have been issued to private hospitals to restart their OPDs, in a bid to reduce the pressure on government hospitals. “If they come across any suspected case of COVID, then the same be referred to GMC,” he said, adding that OPDs at government-run hospitals will commence from April 15.
Speaking about the supply of essential food items, the Chief Minister said that 88 trucks came from Maharashtra and Karnataka to Goa with groceries, vegetables and fruits.
“Supply of cattle feed and medicines has also been streamlined,” he said.
Sawant said he held a meeting with officials of the departments of Panchayat, Transport, Municipal Administration, Fire, Police, Health and Solid Waste Management, wherein directions have been issued to undertake a cleanliness drive across Goa during the ongoing lockdown period.
