A total of 16 COVID positive cases were detected in various parts of Vasco on Tuesday. Earlier, two positive cases were reported in New Vaddem, while one positive case was detected in Shantinagar area.
Fearing a further rise in positive cases, people in many parts of Mormugao taluka have stopped moving around.
A teenager residing at New-Vaddem and his father tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday. The tests of other family members have been conducted and reports are awaited, said health officer Dr Rajendra Borkar, who is attached to the Chicalim Sub-district Hospital.
A sweeper working at the Mormugao municipal council has also tested positive for COVID-19. In another case, five family members of a postman residing at New-Vaddem have also tested positive. The postman had tested positive on Monday. Husband of a nurse working at the health department in Vasco has also tested positive, while a relative of a post office staff has also tested positive for the virus.
Two fresh cases of COVID-19 have been found in Shantinagar area, while a woman and a youth from Khariwada have also tested positive for the disease. The youth who tested positive in Khariwada went to his native place in Karnataka where he was traced and sent to a quarantine facility.
In yet another case, an employee of the electricity department, residing at Bogda in the port town, has tested positive for COVID-19. A driver working with the Kadamba Transport Corporation and residing at Mestawada has also tested positive for the virus.
Meanwhile, the administrative work at the Mormugao civic body was suspended on Tuesday after a sweeper tested positive for COVID-19.
According to MMC chairperson Nandadeep Raut, a sweeper, who is a resident of Cortalim and working with the civic body, has tested positive. “As a precautionary and preventive measure, MMC on Tuesday conducted COVID-19 test of 30 of its administrative staff at the Sub-district Hospital at Chicalim. The remaining staff numbering around 30-35 will be sent for their test on Wednesday. We have provided a Kadamba Transport Corporation bus to transport the municipal employees to the hospital,” said Raut.
Stating that around 65-70 staff members work with the five different departments of the MMC including the administrative department, taxation, technical department, accounts and cash and billing counter, Raut said, “The sweeper who tested positive was linked to these five offices and, therefore, we decided to conduct the test of other administrative staff.” He said workers handling the cleaning work and those associated with the technical and garage section have not been considered for COVID-19 test.
“We will start the administrative work from Wednesday onwards with 30 per cent staff till we receive the reports of all the administrative staff who have been tested for COVID-19,” Raut said adding that the civic body will screen all the staff members from Wednesday with the help of thermal scanner. “Whoever is found with high temperature will be advised to go home and conduct a COVID-19 test,” he said.
Meanwhile, an interdepartmental team led by Chief Secretary Parimal Rai visited Mangor hill on Tuesday and had a detailed interaction with the residents. IGP Jaspal Singh was also present. According to information, the residents were assured of continued support and supply of all essentials. Singh asked the residents not to panic and reach out to Goa Police on 112