Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Wednesday ruled out any death due to COVID-19 stating, “Goa has not reported any new COVID or its related death so far.”
The Chief Minister said that the woman who died in the isolation ward of GMC was suffering from a respiratory illness. “A person dying in isolation ward does not mean he or she is a COVID suspect. We admit the person in the isolation ward only because they have the symptoms similar to the infection. But once the tests are done, and the reportS are negative, they are shifted,” he explained.
“If Goa had reported any COVID death or any new COVID case, there is no question of keeping it hidden. We would have made it public in the interest of our people and State. We would have come out with more restrictions,” he added.
Giving details, Goa Medical College and Hospital Dean, said the patient, a resident of Sawantwadi was referred by the Sub District Hospital, Sawantwadi. The patient had also not stayed in Pernem during the lockdown period and was mentioned as resident of Pernem by relatives to avail insurance benefits.
The patient was brought to the casualty on May 11 with fever and breathlessness and admitted in Ward 113. GMC had taken two swabs as per protocol and the patient was given oxygen. The patient suffered cardiorespiratory arrest from which she could not be revived. Both the swabs reported negative for COVID-19.
The Dean also denied having any patient related to late Jitendra Deshprabhu admitted in GMC as a suspected COVID patient.
