PANJIM: Health Secretary Nila Mohanan on Friday said that the Cuncolim MLA Clafasio Dias has been put on non-invasive ventilator (NIV) and his condition has now stabilised.
The Health Secretary said that the report she has from the doctor treating the Cuncolim MLA is that his condition has been stabilised. “Once he was put on the non-invasive ventilator (NIV) his condition has definitely stabilised. His oxygen saturation level has been maintained at a certain level,” she disclosed while replying to query at a media briefing.
Sources in the hospital revealed that the MLA had breathing problems and hence was put on ventilator. She clarified that NIV is not what many people may understand by ventilator. “NIV – non-invasive ventilator, he is not been intubated, he is not on the ventilator in the normal sense we understand it. It is like a supportive oxygen supply,” she said.
Giving details of the day’s COVID-19 cases, she revealed that on Friday the State registered 100 new cases with 74 recoveries. The number of active cases is 895.
Replying to another query on Verna Industrial Estate, she admitted it has become a cause of concern. “Verna Industrial estate is a matter of concern especially in the context of some pharmaceutical companies. Couple of very strict measures have been taken. Number one closure of these facilities where the cases have taken place. Second, the FDA director Jyoti Sardesai had a detailed meeting with the pharma companies’ representatives today (Friday) in the morning and she reiterated that all necessary precautions in keeping with the guidelines with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the MHA need to be followed,” Mohanan said.
She also acknowledged that the situation in Carambolim is sensitive. “We are watching the Carambolim situation very carefully in wake of rise in cases. Today most results are negative,” she said.
About a positive case in the Education Department, she said that the health team has rushed there immediately and taken samples of the people working in the same section as this person.
“We have collected 19-20 samples to my knowledge. We are waiting for the results. Meanwhile the office is shut and all measures are being taken to sanitise the area within the office with disinfectants. The employees working in the same section have been told not to come to work even on Monday and maintain home quarantine,” she said.
Mohanan added that mass testing is underway in Colvale jail wherein a jail guard was found positive.
She said that the proactive involvement of panchayats and municipalities is very important to make people aware and maintain social distancing.
“We again urge people who experience some symptoms to come forward and get tested,” she said.
She also said that there were no shortage of any medicines and ventilators in the State. “We have received additional ventilators from Centre as well as our suppliers,” she said.
