Team Herald
PANJIM: The State Council of Ministers on Wednesday recommended an extension of the lockdown up to April 30 in the wake of rising number of cases of COVID-19 throughout the country.
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said that the ministers have given their opinion and the State will forward it to the Prime Minister’s Office.
“All 11 ministers have given their suggestion on extension of lockdown. We will inform Centre and PMO. Thereafter, a video-conference will also be held with the PM on April 11, and final decision will be announced on April 13,” Sawant said at the post-Cabinet press conference.
Asked whether the State has made up its mind on extension of the lockdown, he replied, “Every minister wanted decision in interest of the State but I cannot tell what is decided as of now they have given me assurance to stand by me in whatever decision is taken in the interest of the State.”
The Chief Minister also said the decision with regards return of seafarers will be taken by the Centre.
Even as the Chief Minister was non-committal on the decision, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane
said the cabinet was unanimous on the decision to extend the lockdown.
“We were of the opinion that whatever Chief Minister decides in the interest of the State is accepted by all. I am of a firm opinion that the lockdown has to be extended, at the same time Section 144 CrPC has to continue for another three to four months when the virus is under control,” he stated.
Emerging from the meeting, Waste Management Minister Michael Lobo stated that the Chief Minister was handling the issue well and all have recommended at least a 10-day extension of the lockdown.
“Once the lockdown is over the tourism industry can slowly be started but with proper protocol,” he said.
He also said that the decision on seafarers will be taken by Centre after the lockdown ends.
“Not just Goa they are thinking on bringing seafarers from entire India,” Lobo said.
Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho stated this is question of human life and has to be dealt with carefully.
“I firmly believe that if life remains, everything else can be controlled. I have told the CM that whatever is in the interest of the State has to be done,” he stated.
–
Another death in GMC due to respiratory problem
The death of 38-year-old seafarer, who returned from the United States, sent shivers down the spines of Goans Wednesday morning, even as the State government maintained that the patient was not a coronavirus case.
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said the patient had a travel history to US and was admitted in GMC as a coronavirus suspect as he had a sore throat and fever.
“However, not once but four times the patient tested negative for COVID-19. He was first admitted on March 22 and discharged later after his tests were negative. Again he was re-admitted on April 3. Not once, but three more times he tested negative,” he said.
Sawant said the patient had diabetes, ARDS and pneumonia.
This is the third death in GMC due to respiratory diseases and GMC has maintained that these deaths are not related to COVID-19.
—
PWD contract labourers absorbed in society
In a major decision, the State Cabinet on Wednesday decided to absorb the 1,000-odd contract labourers into the Goa Contract Labour Society.
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said that he was working on the demands of these labourers for long and the decision was taken on Wednesday.
“We have decided to absorb the PWD contract labourers into the society with effect from April 1, 2020, Sawant said. He said the labourers will get a direct salary.
Earlier, Sawant explained, they were getting Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000, which will now be Rs 9,000 to Rs 10,000 per month. “The decision will have no financial burden on the State,” he said.
