Goemkarponn Desk
Panaji: Goa Forward Party President Vijai Sardesai has urged the government to immediately adopt the recommendations of the health authorities and the opposition members saying, “don’t consider these as GFP strategy or BJP strategy but consider them as Goa’s strategy.” Sardesai pointed out that Goa requires direct and urgent intervention to mitigate the rapid spread and said, “the worst is yet to come; we have already lost 1,320 people, and Goa has the highest positivity rate in the country today.”
He added, “the current load of 25,839 active cases along with Goa’s Mortality Rate and Positivity Rate are far too high for its small population, and is extremely alarming. “We cannot allow this to continue. This callous response is more than just a national embarrassment; these are people’s lives Goa is losing everyday”, Sardesai said.
Vijai said Goa must look at a 4-pronged strategy that employs lockdown, vaccines, transparency, and management to solve the COVID crisis. Sardesai stated that a 15-day lockdown would be helpful to stop the spread and provide the necessary breathing space for Goa’s medical staff to battle this health crisis.
He pointed out that Goa needs to seal its borders and make it mandatory for visitors to enter only if it’s absolutely necessary, and that too with a negative COVID certificate. “Travellers from other states are flocking to Goa assuming the situation is better because of the government’s carefree attitude, making matters worse and imposing more strain on our frontline medical and other workers.” Vijai pointed out.
The Fatorda MLA urged all citizens and residents in Fatorda and Goa to stay indoors. Vijai stressed the need to “keep our families, our children and our neighbours safe as our highest priority. We need to self-isolate for our individual safety and public safety. The virus is spreading like wildfire, and we must and should remain indoors.” Sardesai assured the people that food supplies and essential items will be available, but strongly recommend that only one member of the family venture out to purchase items enough to cover four to five days.
Vijai Sardesai had time and again compelled the government to implement an effective vaccination drive and had offered several locations across Fatorda including his own office, Goemkar Ghor, as a facility in an effort to “inoculate as many Goans as we can ASAP.” Sardesai said that he was taken aback to read that at the current rate of vaccination, Goa will take up to 1.5 years to cover all its citizens. “The government should look to urgently deploy the Rs. 300 crores Liberation Fund to source the necessary vaccines to double dose all eligible Goans.” Vijai urged.
Vijai Sardesai also called for greater transparency from the government over their handling of the COVID crisis. “Goa needs to know how many vaccines it needs to double dose all citizens, how long it would take, where they can receive the vaccines, how can they book vaccines, which hospitals have available beds, what kind of beds are available, and where they can reliably source oxygen.”
The GFP Chief said, adding, “this is why we need a Command Centre with a dedicated team to help and assist all Goans in real time.” Earlier Sardesai had asked the government to deploy government employees to ensure effective and smooth operations, and to solve the management issues the government faces in its Covid response in the state.