PANJIM: After a gap of over four months, Goa marked a steady rise in COVID-19 cases, with the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) cautioning the people to be on the alert.
Stating that it would be too early to predict if there is already a fourth wave of the pandemic, Health Director Dr Geeta Kakodkar said that as on date, only omicron BA.2 variant is in circulation in Goa, with no new mutation.
On Friday, the State reported 50 new cases of COVID-19 with a single day positivity rate at 6.39 per cent. The sudden jump in cases was reported from Wednesday, when 42 cases were detected followed by 47 cases on Thursday. The death rate has been zero.
Addressing media persons, Kakodkar said that the rise is steady and it is something that cannot be ignored and one needs to be alert.
“It is too early to say if its fourth wave or not,” she said.
“There has always been a four-month gap between each wave. According to experts, Goa might see a rise in cases by June end or July, but we will have to wait and see,” she said.
Kakodkar said that all the 68 samples tested at the State’s genome sequencing machine, have shown it as omicron BA.2 variant.
“There is no evidence of new variant so far,” she said.
Health experts have appealed to people to follow COVID appropriate behavior like wearing of mask, while in public places and to get themselves vaccinated at the earliest.
