No additional COVID curbs: Sawant

Panaji: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday ruled out imposing additional restrictions in the light of the state recording eight new COVID-19 positive cases.

Addressing media persons through web conference, Sawant said that  all the people who have tested positive to the pandemic  came from outside the state.

“There are no positive cases in Goa. All the eight are ‘imported’ COVID cases. The state government cannot impose restrictions on interstate transport as it will affect transportation of  essential supplies, and  unless we receive advice from the Union ministry of home affairs. However,  the government will try to scale up screening,” he explained.

He added that in view of the new COVID  positive cases  the state executive committee will deliberate on taking more measures, maintaining that there has been  no community transmission of the deadly virus.

Sawant also informed that the state will appeal to the railway ministry  to skip Goa halts of passenger trains, if possible.

Sawant expressed concerns that non-Goans coming to Goa by trains may not follow home quarantine guidelines.

The Chief Minister said that he has sought  details of the list of 720 people who have booked tickets on the  passenger train which will arrive  in Goa on Saturday from Delhi.

“As per information,  more than 50 per cent of the passengers are non-Goans,” he added.

Sawant said that around 18,253 Goans stranded outside the state have registered with the government to come back to the state.

“Of these,  6,200 are Goans who are stranded in other states, 8,211 are seafarers and 3,842 are overseas Goans who have registered with the NRI commission to come back to the state…,”  he said.

The Chief Minister further said the Goan seafarer who tested  positive for the pandemic on Thursday, had tested negative for COVID in Mumbai.

“He (the sailor) came back to Goa on Thursday  after completing 14-day quarantine period,  and now he has tested positive for COVID-19 in Goa, Sawant said.  

The Chief Minister will chair a meeting with the state-level bankers committee on Friday for implementing  various schemes announced by the central government for providing support to micro, small, medium entrepreneurs.

He  reiterated that the SSC and Std XII exams will be held as per the

schedule.