Goa felt the shivers of the fast-spreading Coronavirus when a tourist from Delhi who recently arrived from China complained of a throat infection. The Health Department swung into action and quarantined the suspect while sending his blood samples to the National Institute of Virology, Pune. The tourist’s wife, who is suffering from a cold, has also been placed in quarantine at home.
The suspect may have had no direct link with Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus since he had visited Kunshan, a place which is around 700 km away. However, distance becomes irrelevant when there is a human-to-human transmission of the virus. The ‘devil’ virus has spread its tentacles to other Asian countries and is moving towards Europe. The death toll has crossed 130 and appears to be steadily increasing. There is global panic happening with tourists exiting China at a frantic pace.
Back home, the slightest connection to China could trigger alarm bells, and hence authorities must tread a cautious path. Tuesday’s announcement of a suspicious case is enough to create panic among citizens. There will be a worry among Goans because the symptoms and remedial course is not yet known to the public.
India is among the top 30 nations that are at a high risk of Coronavirus according to a latest study by researchers from the University of Southampton in the UK. And since Goa is a tourist destination, it cannot remain insulated. Goa must understand the flow of tourists better and put appropriate precautionary measures in place.
The Dabolim airport remains the primary focus area where the bulk of the tourists arrive. Goa cannot ignore the threat at this entry point on the premise that there are no direct flights from China. The government must push for thermal scanners on the lines of several other airports across the nation.
More importantly, while the Health Department has gone about showcasing its readiness with a two-bedded ICU and a 30-bedded special isolation ward, a major awareness campaign must start immediately. If we may recall, the first Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) case was detected in Goa way back in April 2003. And it had sent citizens in panic mode because there was no clarity on diagnosis and treatment.
Goa may be boasting about being an international tourist destination and pride itself of having world-class medical facilities. But decades down the line, it still relies on NIV, Pune for blood testing. That means, even the remotely suspicious cases have to painstakingly wait for results to come in.
The Health Department has shown its readiness, but awareness work has to start on a war footing. Public places, mainly frequented by foreigners, have to be put on alert. People need to be educated on the common symptoms which appear to be SARS-like. Awareness is significant because it will educate and encourage people to come forward for testing even on suspicion, the way the Delhi tourist did. Step one begins with the people.
