AJIT JOHN
ajit@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Covid has made a quiet return to Goa, with a 70-year-old man from Vasco testing positive. He was shifted to Goa Medical College (GMC) on Sunday. The case was confirmed by a senior doctor, who spoke on condition of anonymity. With this, Goa joins the list of States — alongside Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Kerala — where new Covid cases, including those involving recent variants, have been reported. Nationwide, around 257 cases have been recorded.
Dr Utkarsh Betodkar, State epidemiologist, said there is no need for fear or anxiety, as isolated cases were anticipated. "Thanks to widespread vaccination, most people have developed immunity," he explained. “Unless there’s a significant mutation, we are likely to see only a mild uptick in cases. Some might be more severe than others, but the overall trend remains manageable.”
He added that the government has maintained its post-pandemic surveillance by testing patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) and other related symptoms. “This allows us to track trends in illness. Even though Covid may appear to recede, it has the potential to return. The only major concern would be a strong mutation, which we are not seeing at present,” he said.
Dr Betodkar also noted that regular checks for influenza and other respiratory illnesses continue to be conducted. “These checks help identify any rise in infections. So far, there’s been no increase in Goa. Historically, we see a surge after the monsoon, around September-October, and again in February-March. Those are the peak periods for testing. As of now, there are no new guidelines from the government,” he concluded.
Dr Varsha Munj from North Goa District Hospital assured that their lab is fully prepared to deal with any resurgence. “We have trained staff — many of whom were recruited during the pandemic — along with an isolation ward, an ICU for critical cases, and a genome sequencing lab in Goa. We are fully ready,” she said.
Meanwhile, Rajendra Borkar from South Goa District Hospital confirmed that no cases have been reported in South Goa so far. “There is no indication of Covid in the area at this time. If that changes, we will act based on instructions from the head office,” he stated.
Dr Anil Mehndiratta, former President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), stressed the importance of continued vigilance. “We are far better prepared today. Public awareness has increased, and hopefully, the number of cases will stay low. At my clinic, I still follow all essential protocols. There is no need to panic. Anyone with flu-like symptoms or severe respiratory issues should consult a doctor immediately,” he advised.