PANJIM: The State government on Sunday announced that the Primary Health Centre at Shiroda will serve as COVID-19 care centre wherein asymptomatic ‘persons’ will be treated while symptomatic patients will continue to get treatment at ESI Hospital (Margao) – designated as COVID-19 hospital.
The 60-bedded Hospital is expandable as per the requirement, Health Secretary Nila Mohanan said at a press conference in Panjim.
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“As per Union Ministry of Health Affairs (MHA) guidelines, a COVID-19 care facility has been opened at Primary Health Centre, Shiroda where asymptomatic patients would be admitted. Only symptomatic patients would be admitted in ESI Hospital at Margao,” she said.
The decision has been taken to ensure well-equipped beds are available for the symptomatic patients and the State is prepared for possible rise in symptomatic cases. “More COVID-19 care facilities can also be opened depending on the number of patients,” she said responding to a question.
The OPD from Shiroda PHC, Mohanan added, has been shifted to Kamaxi Ayurvedic Hospital.
On Sunday, 33 new COVID-19 cases were reported of which 30 are from Mangor Hill whereas one person travelled by flight from Delhi and one each travelled by train from Delhi and by road from Maharashtra. This brings the total active cases to 235 while 300 are confirmed cases. A total of 65 persons have recovered so far.
Mohanan said that the restaurants will be opening from June 8 but they will have to abide by social distancing guidelines. Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration will be issuing guidelines to the restaurants, she said.
Director of the Health Services Dr Jose D’Sa informed that only 5 per cent of the total positive cases are symptomatic while urging people, particularly highrisk category to take extra precautions. “COVID-19 is a self-limiting disease. Only 5 per cent is symptomatic while 95 per cent is asymptomatic. These patients get cured without any special treatment and there is zero mortality rate in Goa so far,” he said adding that other communicable diseases are occurring everyday and its figure is more than COVID-19 cases as per statistics of Government of India and Goa Government.
“Nobody should panic or fear but at the same time take all the precautions to prevent this disease. We appeal high risk category such as elderly above 65 years, children below 5 years and pregnant women and persons with ailments to take extra precautions because they are more prone to it,” he said.
The Health Secretary said that regular screening protocol has been followed for frontline health workers and in every 15 days health workers are tested. Guidelines have been circulated for health workers which they have to follow and further closely monitored by department, she said.
The testing at Mongor Hill is only for vulnerable groups and, government said parents can take a call and get their children tested for COVID-19 who have attended SSC board exams at Mongor Hill. However no student from Mongor Hill has answered the examination outside the containment zone.
Mohanan further informed that high capacity Abbot Testing Machine which can perform 456 tests per day will be commissioned soon and begin commissioning by Tuesday ‘after calibration.’
The State has so far tested nearly 30,000 cases since January 29, 2020. On Sunday, 1887 tests were conducted.
On the situation in Mongor Hill and other places, the Health Secretary said, “We are taking all necessary precautions to keep the population safe. There is individual and social responsibility as well. It has to be a combined effort to be safe,” she said.
Shiroda locals oppose move; 10 held
PONDA: Tense situation was witnessed in Shiroda after some locals came out on the road to oppose the government’s move to declare Shiroda Primary Health Centre as a COVID care centre. Ponda police who rushed to the spot arrested ten persons for obstructing and creating tension at the Hospital premises.
Ponda Deputy Collector and Mamlatdar also rushed to the spot.
Meanwhile, Shiroda Sarpanch Amith Shirodkar appealed to the locals not to panic and cooperate with the health authorities. He said since most of hospitals are full there is a need to cooperate on humantarian ground to treat COVID patients.
1.06 lakh leave, 18,656 enter Goa
A total of approx 1.06 lakh people have left Goa while 18,656 persons have entered Goa since relaxation of the lockdown. As of now, 52 trains have left the State. The State also recorded 9001 spitting cases and 22,840 cases wherein people did not wear masks
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