Team Herald
PANJIM: Reiterating that lockdowns and curfews severely impact the life of the common man, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Thursday said that the State will have to fight COVID-19 strategically to ensure that both lives and livelihoods are protected.
In a tweet, Sawant urged all eligible citizens to get themselves vaccinated at the earliest. “Prevention by following COVID appropriate norms and vaccination can defeat the virus. Lockdowns and curfews severely impact the life of the common man,” he said.
“We have to fight strategically to ensure that both lives and livelihoods are protected,” he tweeted further.
The State government has also issued an advisory to its employees directing to get all above 45 years, irrespective of them having any co-morbidity, vaccinated at the earliest.
Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare (MHFW) has also directed State governments to operationalise COVID vaccination centers at work places, both government as well as private establishments.
“With several States experiencing a second wave of COVID-19 cases, vaccination is a safe way to build protection and hence an important tool to stop the pandemic,” Under Secretary (general administration) Shripad Arlekar said in the State advisory issued.
As such, the advisory has been issued to all employees above 45 years of age, whether employed in government departments, semi-government organizations, autonomous bodies or in any other aided institutions, to get vaccinated at the earliest.
“All employees also will continue to wear mask, maintain social distance and follow laid down safety protocol with regard to COVID-19,” Arlekar said.
In Goa, the immunisation programme has received a very poor response. Until April 7, there were 1,20,418 persons who received the first dose of the vaccine, while another 25,365 have received the second dose.
Union Health Ministry has written to all States that COVID-19 vaccination sessions be organised at workplaces, both public and private, which have about 100 eligible and willing beneficiaries by tagging these workplaces with an existing COVID vaccination centers.
