VASCO: Allaying fears on the issue of seafarers quarantined in hotels in the port town, Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida and Chicalim Sub District Hospital’s health officer Dr Rajendra Borkar said people should not panic as seamen have been quarantined and will remain restricted to their rooms.
They said the seafarers will not be allowed to move out from the hotel and nobody will be allowed to meet them. All have tested negative and the government is taking utmost care to stop the spread of COVID-19, they said and sough people’s cooperation.
When questioned on the Vascoites raising concerns on the seafarers kept in the hotels in the port town, the Vasco MLA said, “All these seafarers accommodated in the hotels in Vasco are Goans. All were working abroad to earn their livelihood and have been tested negative after they arrived at Mumbai port and here, they have been kept in quarantine away from the locals.”
He informed that on Friday he called up the police inspector and asked him to maintain a strict vigil on the hotels where seafarers are quarantined. They are monitored day and night, nobody can meet them and they cannot come out. Therefore, I feel people should not panic. Seafarers have checked in Mumbai and again in Goa. They will be tested again within 14 days of quarantine and once they test negative only then they will be sent home.
Almeida people should understand that once these seafarers are quarantined, they cannot roam freely outside as they will be restricted to their rooms.
Dr Rajendra Borkar said, “This response from the public is due to lack of awareness. These quarantine centres are specially designed with a purpose. In these quarantine centres, the people from outside are kept in one place so that they are barred from getting along with the others.”
He said “We have to understand that only if they mix with the other people then there is a chance of spreading the infection. Once they are quarantined they will remain there till they are tested negative. Full social distancing and sanitization are maintained and the seafarers are tested frequently.”
