Team Herald
PANJIM: Around 14 persons have been quarantined at a government facility, after Goa reported its first case of the deadly COVID-19, which originated in Wuhan, China and has killed thousands across the globe.
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The State reported three positive cases on late Wednesday evening. All three had a history of foreign travel. The three patients – aged 25, 29 and 55 – had travelled to Spain, Australia and USA respectively. The director of Health Services Dr Jose D’Sa said all three are stable.
“In view of three positive cases in the state of Goa, we are following guidelines laid by the central government and taking all precautions with support of Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant,” Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said.
He further stated that the testing facility at GMC will be up and running in the next two days. “Our team of doctors are doing their best to make sure we contain the spread of virus in the State of Goa,” he added.
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said, “I have been informed by the DHS that three individuals have tested positive for COVID-19. We are providing the best healthcare facility to the diagnosed patients.”
Sawant said that the three patients are stable and are recovering well. “They don’t have any medical issue,” he said. He said that 35 people, which included their family members and friends, who came in contact with the three persons, have been identified and been quarantined.
“We are also trying to reach out to the second and third generation people, they came in contact with,” he said. He said that all the 35 patients will be tested at the virology testing facility at GMC, from Saturday.
Sawant also said that two people, who travelled from Goa have tested positive in Mangalore and Shimla. “There could be more such cases, we have no idea,” he added.
He said that a non-symptomatic patients is also been quarantined, only because his friend in Mumbai tested positive. “We fear that he could be carrier of virus,” he said.
On the fifth day of the lockdown, the government was unable to put in a system of supply of essential commodities.
Though Sawant had announced that essentials will be home delivered, the assurance is yet to be fulfilled.
This led to people venturing out of their homes in search of food items. The citizens also complained that LPG cylinders were not supplied as assured by the government.
Meanwhile, several village groups and volunteers have come forward for supply of items but there has been no assurance of supply as the grocery stores themselves had run out of stock. “There are no vegetables, grocery items are almost out of stock. So what will we supply as we are not getting supply from distributors,” said a supermarket owner, on condition of anonymity.
