PANJIM: Justifying the State government’s decision not to opt for a lockdown, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also backed him on this move.
Sawant explained that the Prime Minister had called him to review the COVID management situation in the State where he focused on promoting the vaccination programme and that the PM understood why the State wasn’t opting for a lockdown.
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“The PM appreciated our stand (government’s) and said there is no need to go for a lockdown. He spoke about how we should promote our vaccination programme and ensure that all the people get access to all the facilities,” Sawant said. He further added that in a small State like Goa, achieving big targets in terms of the vaccination drive is possible.
“We have also asked the Centre, ie the Union Health Ministry, for permission to vaccinate the entire workforce of the hospitality industry, across all age groups,” Sawant said. He added that he had made a similar request for media personnel.
When media persons, pointed out that the daily number of COVID cases are now crossing the 500 figure, and if the government has taken this factor into account given its insistence on not going for lockdown-type measures or asking for COVID negative certificates from visitors entering the State, Sawant said the government is aware of the cases and they are monitoring all aspects in this regard.
He, however, reiterated that economic activities like tourism will stop if the State goes for a lockdown and that many people will suffer as a result of that.
The CM instead called on the people and the tourists to follow all COVID-related safety guidelines. He asked locals to avoid large gatherings and keep safe distance from tourists who come to Goa in large groups as a way of protecting themselves.
“Our economic activities cannot stop. Lockdown is not the solution. I appeal to the people to come forward and get themselves tested if they have COVID symptoms or come in contact with COVID patients. They should isolate or home quarantine to break the chain. We are providing home isolation kits,” Sawant said.
He emphasised that the government is on its toes when it comes to testing, quarantining, hospitalisation and vaccination.
The Chief Minister then highlighted the need to create awareness about COVID appropriate behaviour like wearing masks, social distancing etc and how these precautionary measures can help the State contain the spread of the infection. He spoke about how the hotel industry is taking such precautions and that tourists too are being asked to follow the rules. He added that the workforce at other industries too have been asked to follow safety guidelines.
Responding to a query about how neighbouring Maharashtra has gone in for a lockdown and there are similar measures being implemented in other States, Sawant said he is hopeful that a similar situation will not happen in Goa and to ensure that it doesn’t reach such a stage, he urged the public to follow the SOPs in place strictly.
