Goa records first Covid-19 fatalities as men from Morlem, Vasco succumb to virus

PANAJI: Goa recorded its first Covid-19 fatality on Monday after an 85-year-old man from Morlem in Sattari succumbed to the disease at the ESI Covid hospital in Margao. Late evening, the state government announced another death, that of a 58-year-old man from Vasco. Another woman, 80, who was taken to the Covid hospital in critical condition, has been put on ventilator support.
The deaths of Chandrakant Sawant and the Vasco man came almost three months after the state recorded its first Covid case in March. Both had co-morbidities. “The deceased (Chandrakant) was bed-ridden for the past four years,” chief minister Pramod Sawant told reporters. “He was suffering from asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). He died on Monday morning.” He said that the state government would conduct his last rites on Tuesday.
The Vasco man, whose name wasn’t revealed at the time of going to press, had a heart condition.
An ESI doctor said that he was transferred there from Goa Medical College (GMC) and hospital, Bambolim, and was in ICU for a few days. “He may have died of a cardiac ailment, and Covid could have been the tipping point,” he said.
Chandrakant contracted the disease after four of his family members — son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren — tested positive more than a week ago. A health official said that he had initially tested negative. When the state government informed his nephew of his death, he decided to go along with the decision of the state government regarding his uncle’s last rites.
The nephew, who has tested negative for Covid-19, has been home quarantined, said sarpanch Vidya Sawant. Every day, around 100 swabs are collected from the containment zone, which has reported 19 cases as of Monday. Chandrakant’s daughter, 50, who tested positive on Sunday, was moved to the Covid care centre on Sunday.
Health minister Vishwajit Rane said the deaths were unfortunate. “I stand with the family in their time of grief,” he said. “We assure the people that our team is doing everything to keep our people safe, and are following the strictest measures.”
Morle sarpanch said the village of Morlem became a little tense after news of Chandrakant’s death reached it early on Monday. “We have taken all precautions after part of the ward was declared a containment zone,” he said. “Swabs of another 30 persons will be collected on Tuesday.” The sarpanch said that the village has received “good support” from Rane, and that seven persons from the village have recovered from Covid and returned home.
Most of the day’s cases were from the Mangor Hill containment zone and isolated cases from Curtorim, Margao and Ambelim, where the health department is yet to establish a clear link. Seven travellers also tested positive for the virus on Monday.
State epidemiologist Dr Utkarsh Betodkar said that cases are termed “isolated” when the state government hasn’t found any travel history or clear link to how the person concerned may have contracted the infection.