Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: As Goa gets into party mood to welcome the new year, the coastal State witnesses surge in fresh COVID-19 cases daily. On Wednesday, State recorded 170 cases, with daily positivity rate going above five per cent.
The State government on Wednesday made compulsory COVID19 negative certificate or 100 per cent vaccination for entering casinos, spa, massage parlour, places of public amusement, restaurants, pub, bar, hall, auditorium, marriage venue, cinema halls, river cruises, water and entertainment parks. The capacity is also restricted to 50 per cent.
On Wednesday, State recorded 170 new COVID-19 cases, a jump by 58 more cases as compared to Tuesday which reported 112 cases, the highest in last three months. With this, the active patient tally stood at 657.
Also, the daily positivity shoot up from 4.03 per cent to 5.25 per cent and is expected to rise further.
Untill mid December, the State’s daily positivity rate was hovering between 1-2 per cent.
As per the Health Bulletin issued by Directorate of Health Services (DHS), of the total 657 active cases, Panaji has 90 active patients, followed by 67 in Margao, 56 in Cansaulim, 53 in Cortalim and 39 in Porvorim health centre.
Active cases above 10 are also reported in the health centres of Bicholim, Mapusa, Aldona, Candolim, Corlim, Chimbel, Siolim, Curchorem, Vasco, Chinchinim, Balli, Navelim and Ponda.
The rural health centres of Cansarvanem and Marcaim are yet to report a single COVID-19 case.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in mid 2020, a total of 1,80,399 people have been infected with the virus of which 1,76,222 have recovered.
The Task Force on COVID19 management is set to meet on January, 3 next week, during which decision will be taken on imposing some stringent measures including night curfew, as recommended by the Expert Committee.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said that there has been a significant jump from 112 (28th Dec) to 170 today, similar to the rise that occurred in April-May 2021.
He has asked director DHS & Dean GMC to convene an emergency meeting with expert doctors to suggest measures.
“Goa being a tourist destination, it is very important for us to protect the citizens as well as the tourists,” Rane said.
He also maintained that the government is driven by expert advice of the doctors. We are waiting for them to deliberate & make concrete suggestions.