Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Thursday said that the print media and social media said that Governor Satya Pal Malik is upset with the media for wrong news on COVID19 only for His Excellency to rebut the Statement in few hours.
The Governor slammed the government for the delaying the lockdown and showed complacency too soon.
Sawant earlier, told reporters that the Governor was unhappy with media for showing wrong news in media and they should project the good work done also.
“We explained to him the good work done but he was upset as social media and print media is showing all wrong news,” he stated.
Hours later, the Governor told a local news channel that he never blamed the media for wrong news.
“It is totally wrong. I have never blamed the press as media is helping us in fight against COVID 19. It is irresponsible statement by CM,” he said.
The Governor said that various things were discussed like there were complaints of unhygienic conditions in covid care centres, shortage of ambulances.
“To a great extent the Health Secretary and Health Minister explained the works done. Discussion as satisfactory but lot of things are needed which is not happening. Another hospital in North and more ambulances are needed,” he said.
Governor also criticised the co-morbidity logic saying “I have asked them to treat that co-morbidity too not just not just COVID treatment.
He said he was satisfied that Goa is doing best in testing.
However, he said, the State went too early to celebrate its success.
“We were satisfied as such time when we should not have been. People in Vasco were asking for lockdown which was not done and announced doing it now when the virus has spread everywhere. This was error of judgement,” he said.
The Chief Minister, Dr Pramod Sawant, the Health Minister, Vishwajit Rane, Chief Secretary, Parimal Rai, IAS and the Health Secretary, Ms Nila Mohanan, IAS called on the Governor, Satya Pal Malik today to brief him about the current COVID-19 situation in the State of Goa.
The government release said that the latest statistics were presented to the Governor, along with the analysis of the figures regarding testing rate, recovery rate, positivity rate and mortality rate.
“The arrangements put in place in terms of clinical management, food, housekeeping and other facilities at the COVID Hospital and the Covid Care Centres were outlined. The containment strategy put in place by the Collectors in the containment and micro-containment zones of both Districts was described, along with the arrangements for the supply of essential items to the people residing in such zones. The initiatives taken by the Health Department in setting up testing facilities, procuring the medicines recently recommended by ICMR and operationalizing the Plasma Bank and making preparations for plasma therapy were brought out,” it said.
The Chief Secretary, Parimal Rai, IAS briefed the Governor about the co-ordination and monitoring mechanism put in place through daily war room meetings of the State Executive Committee of the State Disaster Management Authority.
The Health Minister, Vishwajit Rane highlighted the efforts of the Health Department to enhance the infrastructure and equipments for managing COVID 19 in the State.
Dr Sawant spoke about the various measures taken and incentives offered by the State Government for economic revival.
The Governor appreciated the constant and dedicated efforts taken by the State Government to combat the COVID 19 situation. He stated that strict vigil should be maintained throughout the State and awareness should continue to be created amongst the public about the safety protocol (use of masks, sanitizers, maintaining social distance etc.) to be followed and about timely reporting of any symptoms to the Health Department.
