Sawant takes back statement on community transmission

Panaji: Days after admitting that there has been community transmission of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state,  Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday retracted his statement claiming that it has  not been the community transmission as the “virus is not in the air”.

Speaking to media persons at the secretariat, Sawant said the “virus is not in the air” and health authorities have been able to identify the root of the infection.

“I might have said that it had been the community transmission in Goa. But I have gone into the details of it and found that it has not been the community transmission. So I am rectifying my earlier statement,” he explained.

The Chief Minister said the virus has spread in Goa from one person to another.

Asked whether the government will take more measures to snap the chain of the virus spread, Sawant said the only way to stop the spread of the virus is to adopt precautionary approach by everybody.

“We must be on our guard as COVID positive cases are being detected in our neighborhoods. I have been time and again appealing to people to keep to social distancing and wearing of face masks. We should not violate these guidelines,” he reckoned.