PANAJI
The number of new Covid-19 cases in Goa shot up on Friday with 100 persons testing positive for the infection. The spike reflected in the positivity rate as well with a total of 5.5 per cent of the 1,813 samples tested in the last 24 hours turning positive as against the 2 to 3.5 per cent range of positivity seen in the months leading up to this rise.
The single day increase prior to this fluctuated within 30 and 50.
Additionally, the Covid victim toll of the State has slowly begun to inch towards the 800-mark with three Covid related deaths being recorded in the mortality bulletin of the State’s health department. The total Covid victim count of Goa stands at 794.
All three deaths occurred at Goa Medical College and Hospital in the past 24-hours.
The deceased persons include an 89 year-old man from Mapusa, a 72 year-old woman from Agacaim and an 81 year-old man from Mormugao.
The total confirmed cases now stand at 54,871 of which 587 are currently active and 53,490 have recovered.
The present scenario is reflective of the fact that the government has failed to keep both its promises, that of raising the daily testing capacity to 2,000 and above and also of strategizing urgently in view of the rising Covid cases in neighbouring Maharashtra.
It may be recalled that Health Minister had stated on February 19 that he is likely to meet Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to discuss the matter and that “if Covid cases trend continues in Maharashtra we will also have to be strict as far as Goa as a state is concerned”.
Earlier this week, Dean of GMCH Dr S M Bandekar also stressed on the urgent need to screen people entering Goa from Maharashtra.
Although it remains unclear whether the spike being experienced in Maharashtra will spill over into Goa, the government machinery appears to be making no efforts in averting the same and is largely focussed on planning the upcoming municipal polls and Shigmo parades.
On the other hand, the Covid vaccination drive is continuing at snail’s pace with 97 Health Care Workers (HCWs) and 790 Front Line Workers (FLWs) being given the first dose on Friday. Of the 12,080 HCWs who have received the first shot of the vaccine till date, only 2,712 have come forward for the second mandatory dose. A total of 7,419 FLWs have been covered under the first dose in Goa since February 8.
