PANJIM: Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Saturday said that government will approach Centre for setting up a branch of National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Goa, along with providing funding for virology lab.
Addressing media persons, Rane said, “Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant has already cleared the file seeking Rs 3 crore funds from Centre for setting up virology lab in Goa, so that we don’t have to depend on Pune, where currently the samples are being sent for testing.”
“Simultaneously, I will also be writing to Union Minister for Health Dr Harsh Vardhan to set up NIV branch in Goa, which will be centre for entire Konkan belt and so also for Karwar district,” he said.
Stating that there are no positive cases of coronavirus in the State till date, Minister said that the coming week is going to be very crucial and has appealed people to follow all safety measures and precautions, including social distancing.
Rane said that with imposition of Section 144 across the State, gathering of more than five people will amount to legal action.
“We are not going to allow any gathering of more than five people. I appeal people not to hold weddings, parties or other celebrations. Religious institutions are also requested to ban or restrict its activities as a measure of social distancing,” he said.
Further, Rane informed that along with international passengers, screening of domestic visitors have also begun at the Dabolim airport and people are being stamped for home quarantined.
“I will appeal people, travelling from the infected countries or States, to approach Health department and get their screening done as a precautionary measure,” he said.
Minister has also requested people to stop rushing to hospitals with minor symptoms or non-essential medical emergencies. “We have to make sure that OPDs are not crowded. Surgeries or medical treatments, which are not urgent, should be postponed as a safety measure,” he said.
