PANJIM: Amid an unprecedented COVID-19 surge, Goa will undergo a complete lockdown from Thursday evening to Monday, May 3, morning, with the aim to break the chain of transmission of the COVID-19 virus.
Hours after Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant announced the three-day lockdown, on Wednesday, there were 3,101 new infections reported, the highest single-day spike, since the pandemic hit the State last year.
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“The lockdown has been imposed in order to break the COVID-19 chain,” the Chief Minister said, urging people, especially the migrant labour force, not to panic and buy stocks as essential services will continue during the period and that normal activities will resume from Monday morning.
As in the second wave, the progression of disease is faster, as per medical experts, Goa’s active case tally stood at 18,829 as on Wednesday with 1,110 mortalities. Health Minister Vishwajit Rane had been appealing to the government to impose a 30-day lockdown to bring the situation under control.
“Despite several requests, the people are not ready to stay home. Hence, we had to work out a way, in a bid to respect the sentiments of the medical fraternity as well as industrial sector. State will go for lockdown from Thursday evening onwards,” Sawant said, ruling out possibility of extending the lockdown beyond May 3, while a decision on the ongoing night curfew will be taken on April 30.
“People should not panic. All grocery stores and essential services will be allowed to operate, I also urge migrant labourers not to leave the State,” the Chief Minister said, adding, “If people do not step out for the next four days we will be successful in breaking the chain of this surge. We need to work together to break this chain. Everyone needs to contribute.”
Along with essential services like grocery stores, pharmacies, hotel and restaurant kitchens, industries will continue to remain open, but will have to make transport arrangement for their employees. However, public transport and markets will remain closed.
There will be no restriction on essential services at the entry points of the State. Tourists already in the State or who have bookings during the lockdown period, will be allowed to enter, but cannot step out of their hotels and will need to stay at their residence during the period of the lockdown.
“Tourists should put stay where they are. They cannot travel during the lockdown. Tourism activity will stop for three days. Casinos will also be shut,” Sawant said.
The government has also announced that several localities like Porvorim (12,91), Margao (1,828), Panjim (1,162), Candolim (1,436), will be declared containment zones. “These are the areas where there are large numbers of cases. We will impose restrictions here for a longer period to bring the situation under control,” Sawant said, adding that the decision will be taken after taking the local MLAs into confidence.
