JOAO SOUSA M | NT

Margao

Soon after the kin of Ambelim COVID-19 patients getting upset over the manner in which the patients were handled, the state’s health department has had to face some more embarrassment.

More drama unfolded in Ambelim late Sunday evening as two patients, who had tested positive for the virus were taken to the Calangute COVID care centre only to be dropped back home, as there were no beds to accommodate them in the care centre.

According to sources, health officials turned up around 10.30 pm to shift the COVID positive patients to COVID hospital. The kin of the patients said they had requested the health officials to shift the patients to the COVID care centre at Mormugao. However, the kin were told the patients will be shifted to the Calangute COVID care centre.

Fuming over the inhumane behaviour of the health department, the family members said the patients were taken by ambulance to the Calangute facility only to realise there were no beds available there. After dilly-dallying for nearly four hours, the patients were finally brought back and kept at home for the night, said the family members.

“My relative’s condition worsened due to weakness and the hardships he had to face not only as he had to stay awake through the night but also because of the tiredness of having to travel nearly 130-140 km,” said a family member of one of the patients. The family members said the ambulance

returned Monday morning around 10 am to shift the patients to the COVID care centre in Mormugao. 

Meanwhile, the Ambelim panchayat on Monday sanitised various parts of the village, especially areas where positive cases have been detected. Sarpanch Danica Correira said the sanitisation was taken up near the Ambelim chapel and the surrounding areas.

In neighbouring Cuncolim, the municipal council has issued a public notice asking locals to avoid unnecessary travel. The public notice states that due to the increasing number of COVID 19 cases detected in the neighbouring areas of Ambaulim and Ambelim, all people of Cuncolim jurisdiction are requested to avoid unnecessary travel to the above places in order to remain safe. It further states that street vendors coming from the infected areas are requested not to carry out trade in the jurisdiction of Cuncolim municipality till the situation improves.