Lockdown in villages over fear of COVID

Agarwada-Chopdem to remain shut for a week

NT NETWORK

Mapusa

Yet another village in Pernem taluka has decided to go in for a complete lockdown in its panchayat jurisdiction fearing the spread of COVID-19.

On Saturday, the Agarwada-Chopdem panchayat body convened a meeting under the leadership of sarpanch Pramod Gaonkar.

After deliberation, the panchayat decided to go in for a complete lockdown in the interest of villagers from June 15 to June 21 as a preventive measure against coronavirus infection.

The panchayat body has decided that during the lockdown period, all

shops will remain closed and only pharmacies, banks, co-operative societies, government offices, dairy, clinics will be operational. The panchayat has warned that if any shopkeeper or anybody is found violating the lockdown, a fine of Rs 5,000 will be imposed. The panchayat has requested the villagers to support the lockdown and cooperate.

It may be noted that earlier Palyem village had also decided to observe a lockdown to arrest the spread of COVID-19.

When contacted, Gaonkar said the decision has been taken as a preventive measure. “In Agarwada, we have four persons, who have returned from Mumbai and their throat swab sample reports are awaited. So as a precautionary measure, we have decided to go in for lockdown,” he said.

 “We had also closed down the fish market in the village on Friday after we observed that norms of social distancing were not being followed,” the sarpanch said.

Week-long self-imposed lockdown in Merces

 NT NETWORK

Panaji

Fearing community transmission, the Merces village panchayat has resolved in its monthly meeting held on Friday to lock down the village for six days from June 15 to June 20 due to the rising cases of COVID-19 in the neighbouring areas of Chimbel village.

The move came following a representation received from locals demanding a self-imposed lockdown rather than waiting for government intervention to contain the spread of infection from the neighbouring infected areas.

According to the health department, a total of ten positive cases have been detected in Chimbel till Friday.

As per the panchayat sources, grocery shops will be allowed to transact business from 7 am to 1 pm, while pharmacies and fair price shops have been exempted from the lockdown. Police has been asked to remain vigilant and penalise people found roaming around the village without wearing a face mask. However, there is no restriction on office-goers travelling to their offices.

Villagers started observing the lockdown from Saturday onwards with many shops remaining closed after 1 pm. People remained indoors but no areas were sealed. Bus operators stopped plying buses to Panaji from Merces, Curca and Chimbel areas to ensure 100 per cent lockdown.

 The temple management of Sateri Devalaya Sausthan at Peribhat also closed the temple premises for devotees.

The panchayat has requested the villagers to cooperate with the authorities and stay indoors to help fight COVID-19. Panchayat will make a public announcement about the order on lockdown mentioning the timings from Monday morning, sources said.

Aldona, Nachinola villagers to stay indoors

NT NETWORK

Mapusa

Following the confirmation of a positive case in Aldona, the village panchayat has decided to go in for a complete lockdown for a period of three days, while the neighbouring village panchayat of Nachinola has also decided to observe lockdown for a week.

On Friday, a Mumbai returnee had tested positive in Aldona following which there was anxiety among the locals, who feared the spread of the infection.

Taking cognisance of the positive case, an emergency meet was held by the panchayat body on Saturday. The meeting was presided over by acting sarpanch Shukradini Polle and attended by local MLA Glenn Ticlo. The panchayat unanimously decided to observe a complete lockdown in the village for a period of three days from June 14 to June 16 under the Epidemic Diseases Act. It was decided that shops providing essential goods and services will remain open strictly between 6.30 am and 10.30 am.

The panchayat body has written a letter to Deputy Collector, Bardez, requesting him to seal the village borders in the interest of villagers.

Meanwhile, sarpanch of Nachinola Pooja Mayekar has issued a notice informing about the panchayat body’s decision to go in for a lockdown in the village for a period of one week from June 15 to June 21.

Only essential commodity stores will remain open from 8 am to 10 am on June 16, June 18 and June 20 during the lockdown period, the notice states. The decision of lockdown in Nachinola was taken after meeting Ticlo and panchayat members, said the sarpanch while requesting the villagers to support the lockdown.

Meanwhile, a team of health workers has collected throat swab samples of five family members, who were in close contact with the Aldona COVID positive patient. The family members have been placed under home quarantine.

The health officials are trying to trace the other contacts of the patient, as it is alleged that the patient was moving around in the village.

“We have taken samples of his close family members and are trying to trace the others who may have come in contact with the patient. Even the police have been informed,” said Dr Pritam Naik.

According to the locals, the patient, who had returned from Mumbai on June 10, was asked to quarantine himself. However, he continued to move out of the house and visited public places.