PANJIM: The COVID-19 situation in the coastal State gets grim as daily spike jumps to 200, recording highest ever over the past five months. Comparatively, the daily recovery is not impressive. As per Health Bulletin released by Directorate of Health Services on Wednesday, Goa has 200 cases in last 24 hours while only 62 patients have recovered during this period.
This has pushed Active cases to 1,556 while total cases stand at 58,039. Of these, 55,653 have recovered, 203 are currently in home isolation and 36 are hospitalised. The last 24 hours also recorded one death taking the death toll to 830.
The State is witnessing a surge in cases since February and daily cases in three digits being recorded continuously.
Dr Rajendra Borkar, Chief Medical Officer (COVID-19), has said that Goa is going towards second wave and urged people to follow COVID-19 appropriate behaviour to avoid transmission.
“Cases are increasing all over the world including India. Goa is also witnessing rise in cases. If we are able to follow all the COVID-19 appropriate behaviour like wearing face masks, maintaining social distance, we might be able to curtail the upcoming second wave or may end up entering into it,” he said.
The doctor also appealed to the people eligible to get themselves vaccinated, to do so as early as possible while those already vaccinated should continue following COVID-19 appropriate behaviour without lying low on it.
Amidst rise in cases, the government cancelled Shigmo parade which was scheduled to be held from March 30 to April 4 at Ponda, Panjim and Mapusa. The worsening COVID-19 situation also led to curtailing of the Budget session of the Goa Legislative Assembly from 13 working days to only four days.
In his tweet, Independent MLA Rohan Khaunte has come down heavily on the Pramod Sawant-led government for being insensitive towards the current scenario. “Goa’s COVID positivity rate marked third highest in the country but our Government is still towing ‘Bhivpachi Garaj Na’ and inviting disaster. Imploring @goacm to come out of ‘Election Mode’ and act For Goans Welfare at the earliest,” he tweeted.
The government has also been cornered for failing to implement Section 144 CrPC effectively.
As a part of All India drive, persons aged 45 years and above can get themselves vaccinated from April 1, 2021. This also includes those without co-morbid conditions.
