Goemkarponn desk
CANACONA: One and half years after the first Covid-19 case was detected in Canacona taluka, health officials are estimating another surge in cases as large numbers of people stepped out of their homes for the Ganesh Chathurthi festival.
Canacona taluka, which already has about a hundred active cases, is staring at a significant surge in cases as people thronged the Chaudi town to buy provisions on the eve of the Chathurthi inspite of the authorities and concerned citizens warning people not to participate in large scale gatherings and restrict themselves to celebrations to only close members only.
With distress over the loss of jobs, livelihood and living in fear for last two years, most of the people in the taluka relegated COVID fear to the back seat and thronged the Chaudi town on the previous day and also on the day of the Chathurthi as people were seen scrambling for a place in the town.
Shoppers were seen wearing masks but were too close for comfort, while concerned citizens raised fears that this would surely increase the number of Covid-19 cases in weeks to come.
Shoppers were mostly seen crowded at Bagyatdhar Bazar, the lone. supermarket in the taluka on Thursday and till noon on Friday, the first day of Ganesh Chathurthi festival.
The Bagyatdhar Bazar is in the eye of the storm of the concerned citizens of the taluka for violations of all types of Covid-19 protocol, and inspite of locals warning the superstore staff to follow Covid-19 SOP, the bazaar continued to disregard and violate the protocol many complained.
Health authorities in the taluka informed that it has over a hundred active cases, most of whom are isolated in their homes and undergoing treatment.
A couple of months back, however, the cases were hovering around zero, and suddenly, since last month, the cases increased mathematically informed a source at the Canacona Community Health Centre.
Last week itself, South Goa District Collector declared three houses in Loliem-Polem village panchayat as micro containment zones informed the same source.
Inspite of the efforts of the administration warning the public to avoid coming together during the festival, the people seemed to have thrown caution to the wind while doing the festival shopping, and on the two days of the festival itself, we hope all will be safe from Covid-19 in coming days informed Anil Bhagat, a senior citizen from the taluka.