Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: It’s a rare coincidence that the smallest State of Goa which recorded its first COVID19 death on June 22, 2020, has completed 3000 deaths on the same day after a year.
Last year, on same day I.e. 22 June 2020, Goa got the first bad news of Covid fatality, which had rocked the State then.
Since then, Goa has reached a figure of 3000 Covid deaths on the same day on June 22, 2021.
Dr Madhu Ghodkirekar, head of Forensics at Hospice hospital says “On this day of first death anniversary of late Chandrakant Sawant (first victim) and late Shankar (second victim) my heart felt sympathies to their families and also to all 2999 families who lost their near and dear ones,” he said.
He also greeted all those 1 lakh 60 thousand Covid patients who defeated the dreaded virus successful.
It was this day when we saw the most cruel behaviour of the people in Bogda, who refused final rights to the COVID19 patient.
It was only after Dr Madhu’s intervention that the Ponda Municipal Council and the staff of Ponda Vaikutdham Smashanbhumi agreed for cremation.
It is important to note here that it was a first kind of experience for Goa as the relatives of patients too were scared to touch the bodies.
At that time, Ratnatant Velip /mortuary staff, Sachin of EMRI hearse van and Maruti/ ESI staff) who came forward and performed final farewell to first two Goan Covid victims.
“I thank entire Goa and Goan media for their utmost sensitivity towards forever lost ones,” Dr Madhu said.
Alarming death rate…
In last one year we have seen 3000 deaths which means 8.21 persons have died everyday, which is too big a number for a small state like Goa.
The mortality rate in the State is 1.82 pc considering that 164654 patients had tested positive for the virus.
The recovery rate in the State has reached 96.31 p.c so far.
Tika Utsav
The Tika Ustav 3.0 by the state has been receiving enormous response as nearly 1,36, 408 people in the 18-44 category were vaccinated with first dose of Covid-19 vaccine taking the total tally pass 7.6 lakh.
As per information by the health department, 18, 662 were vaccinated on day of the Ustav (June 13) , 14,873 people on June 14, 18,505 on June 15, 15,911 on June 16, 14959 on June 17, 16,218 on June 18, 21, 624 on June 19. While 15,656 were vaccinated on June 20.
The Goa government had announced that it will host “Tika Utsav 3.0”, a vaccination festival across the state to inoculate maximum population in the age group of 18 to 44 years against COVID-19.
The state government has held two “Tika Utsavs” in the past involving all panchayats and municipal councils.
CM Sawant had said vaccination centres will be set up in every panchayat and municipal area to ensure that nearly 250 persons are vaccinated every day at each centre during the utsav.
“Seventy five per cent people above 45 years have been vaccinated. As many as 30 per cent people have not taken their first dose yet,” the Goa Chief Minister added.
Sawant further said the opposition parties were “unnecessarily” criticising the Tika Utsavs, when they had been garnering good response from the public.
