PANJIM: From being the first State in the country to enter the ‘Green Zone’ with zero COVID-19 cases to being top of the chart with highest positivity rate, Goa has seen a record rise in daily coronavirus infections in a year. With 33,013 cases, April turned out to be the worst month, wherein the positivity rate jumped from 8 per cent at the beginning of the month to 44.75 per cent at the month-end.
As per the information released by the Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare, Goa’s positivity rate on May 2, stood at 48 per cent – the highest in the country. Haryana ranked second with a positivity rate of 37 per cent.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane too admitted that Goa’s positivity rate is very high and strict measures have to put in place to bring the situation under control. “The situation is grim. It’s true that Goa’s positivity rate is very high and we are now seeking fresh allocation for medical oxygen and life-saving devices. Also, measures are in place to curb the spread,” he said.
As on date, the State’s COVID confirmed caseload stood at 1,04,398 with 3,496 new infections – the highest single day surge since the pandemic hit the State in January 2020. The positivity rate for the day stood at 51 per cent.
Goa had become the first State in the country to be declared ‘COVID free State’ in mid April 2020. However, within a month, the State reported new cases and the surge continued thereafter.
As per the Ministry data, States like Delhi (32%), Maharashtra (24%), Kerala (22%), Karnataka (28%) are far better than Goa, whose population is hardly 15 lakh, in the positivity rate.
