Goa: In Curtorim zone, close watch on health of those vulnerable to virus

MARGAO: A day after a part of ward II of Curtorim was declared a containment zone by the South Goa district magistrate, the authorities swung into action and restricted the movement of residents from the ward with the police setting up barricades at various points.
The South Goa district administration also set up a helpline number 9607257685 to enable residents to get in touch with the authorities for supply of essential goods and services. Teams of volunteers have been also deployed inside the containment zone and buffer zone for the purpose, it was informed.
Deputy collector and subdivisional magistrate (SDM) Salcete Vishal Kundaikar told reporters that all arrangements have been put in place to ensure that least inconvenience is caused to the people residing within the containment zone.
“All essential goods will be provided to the residents at their doorsteps as per their requirements. A number of people from the neighbouring locality have been enlisted as volunteers. We are receiving good cooperation from the residents,” Kundaikar said.
What’s significant is that nearly 30% of the residents within the containment zone are in the vulnerable age group. “The rapid response team for the containment zone is closely monitoring the situation. We are also keeping a close watch on the health of the vulnerable section of the residents in the area. Among the 200 people residing within the containment zone, 40 people are above 60 years of age, and 18 children are in the age group of less than 10 years,” Salcete mamlatdar Prataprao Gaonkar said.
Health screening of the residents and collection of swab samples of suspected persons from the containment zone will commence from Friday. “We have already tested most of the people from the containment zone. However, we will conduct one more round of screening and tests will be done if necessary. So far we have tested over 350 people from the village,” health officer of Curtorim PHC, Dr Vallabh Nadkarni said.
The residents of the containment zone have also been asked to download the Aarogya Setu App.
Ward II of Curtorim village was declared containment zone and the rest of the ward as buffer zone on Wednesday after 13 members of 6 families residing in Bhatti and Sandeul wards tested positive for Covid-19. The areas extending from Jace wine shop to the veterinary hospital junction, Jace wine shop to Regino Construction, Regino Construction to Government middle school, Bhatti, and Government middle school Bhatti to veterinary hospital junction, constitute the containment zone.
As per the action plan outlined in the order, screening of suspects, testing of suspected cases, quarantining, isolation, social distancing and other public health measures will be enforced in the containment zone.