PANJIM: In a major relief to Goans, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Saturday stated that there has been no community transmission of COVID-19 in the State until now.
Acknowledging that there have been seven cases of COVID-19, he urged the people to continue social distancing which will keep the State in the safe zone. “Today Goa has reported one more positive case taking the total to seven. I must say that out of seven, six are foreign-returned and only one case is the brother of first positive case,” Sawant said, at his daily briefing.
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The Chief Minister said that people need to continue social distancing to keep the virus at bay. “We are happy that as of now there is no community transmission and as such we need to continue social distancing and everybody has to co-operate,” he said.
Sawant said that all six patients were healthy and did not have any symptoms of coronavirus. “They all were in good health but were carriers of the virus,” the CM cautioned, adding the other States have already seen community transmission.
The Chief Minister also revealed that the two COVID-19 patients who had tested negative a couple of days ago have tested positive again. “They have not been cured of the virus now. They have tested positive again. To be discharged they need to test negative twice,” the CM said.
Further, getting ready for the post-lockdown period, the Chief Minister disclosed that government departments have already begun sanitisation of markets, bus stands and public places.
Besides this, the Chief Minister, without giving details, said that the State will soon begin a surveillance programme through anganwadi workers and health staff throughout the State on COVID-19.
The Chief Minister also said that those in the fish businesses can look at the option of delivering fish at home. “The government is not allowing fish sale only because there will not be any social distancing. Those who have fish stocks can deliver it at people’s homes,” he asserted.
He reiterated that he would take strict action against companies that deduct salaries of employees during the lockdown period. “There are Centre’s guidelines that they make full payment for the lockdown period. Anyone flouting them will be penalised under the Disaster Management Act,” he said.
