Team Herald
PANJIM: With almost 16 UK returnees testing positive for COVID-19, Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte has urged the government to make institutional quarantine mandatory for the UK passengers.
In a post on social media, Khaunte said the issue has become a serious concern for the citizens of the State and the CM Dr Pramod Sawant and the Health Minister should not let the people down this time.
“COVID amongst UK returnees is of serious concern. Institutional Quarantine should be mandatory to ward off the threat of new virus strain. @goacm & @visrane should personally monitor and not fail Goa atleast this time,” Khaunte tweeted.
Till date, 16 UK passengers who arrived in Goa since December 9 have tested positive for the dreaded virus.
Sources revealed that over 400 passengers, out of 900, arrived from UK after December 9, have been tested. The 16 positive samples will be sent for genomic study to Pune lab to check if they contain the new UK strain.
There have been no reports from Pune yet. The State government has decided to designate the ESI Hospital in South Goa district for the purpose of keeping all the patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 after their arrival from the UK.
Meanwhile, the 53rd repatriation flight from Sharjah landed at Goa International Airport early morning with 85 passengers. Another flight with 127 passengers left for Sharjah Sunday morning.
