PANJIM: After initially ruling out a lockdown, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Thursday said the government is ‘positively’ considering imposing a complete lockdown in the State to ‘break the chain’ of COVID infection and that the decision will be taken in two-three days after consulting all stakeholders.
The statement comes after BJP MLAs, during a video conference stressed on the need to impose a complete lockdown in the State for a few days to curb the unprecedented rise in COVID cases.
Earlier, the united opposition as well as the industrial body – Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) – had urged the government to impose a 15-day lockdown.
Speaking to media persons post the meeting, Sawant said that the MLAs were of the view that there should be a complete lockdown as the current restrictions, though stricter, are yielding no results and cases continue to rise.
“The government is also positivity considering imposing lockdown in the State. The decision will be taken after consulting the stakeholders and cabinet ministers in next two-three days,” Sawant said.
The chief minister added that essential services like grocery stores will be allowed to operate during the lockdown period so that there is no panic buy.
The ongoing restrictions, imposed from April 29 evening onwards, are in force till 6am of May 10. During this period, essential grocery stores, restaurants for take away, banks, ATMs, petrol pumps, pharmacies, industrial and private sectors are allowed to operate.
Sawant said the current restrictions are stricter, however, the people need to adhere to them by restricting themselves within their homes and not moving out unless necessary.
Speaking to media persons post the meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant Kavlekar said that all the MLAs were of the opinion that a lockdown should be imposed. He added that the MLAs made this suggestion given how bad the COVID situation is at the moment and how the infection has spread across the State.
“The Chief Minister will take a decision on going for a lockdown in the next 24 hours,” Kavlekar said. He added that the MLAs had suggested the lockdown be imposed as they felt that it can help flatten the COVID curve and break the chain.
Kavlekar, however, did not give details as to how long the lockdown will last, if and when it is imposed.
Asked by media persons as to why the government is now considering such a decision when it should have taken it earlier when cases began to rise, Kavlekar defended the government’s action and said there have been timely restrictions put in place as and when required.
He then acknowledged that not all have been following the new COVID SOPs and said some sections of the public have still not taken COVID seriously.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister also directed MLAs to set up COVID war room in their constituencies in a bid to monitor the situation within their jurisdiction and also the home isolation patients.
“Have asked MLAs to make calls to panch, health officers and even to the person in isolation to ensure that they are provided with all basic support, including medical aid,” he said.
He appealed to people above 45 years of age to get vaccinated as fast as possible. He said the government is making efforts to bring the COVID situation under control and also to ensure that economy is not affected.
Kavlekar, the BJP Quepem MLA also said that following discussions with the CM, a COVID Centre will start functioning in Quepem by Friday and that it will have beds with adequate oxygen supply.
