Two more die of Covid-19, Goa sees 90+ cases second day in row

MARGAO/VASCO: Goa witnessed one of its worst Covid-19 days since the pandemic began after two persons succumbed to the infection on Friday. In addition, the state saw over 90 positive new cases for the second day in a row. The two deaths — those of a 75-year-old woman from Salcete and a 45-year-old man from Vasco — raised the state’s death toll to six.
The Salcete woman was undergoing treatment at the Covid hospital for the past two weeks. Deputy director of health services Dr Ira Almeida told TOI that she had co-morbidities and had been admitted in the hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU). “She had an underlying lung condition,” Almeida said. “The Covid infection made it worse.”

In the case of the Vasco fisherman, his Covid-positive status was only confirmed after his death. Sources said that he had visited the Chicalim sub-district hospital on Thursday complaining of mild fever. His swab sample was drawn for testing and he was sent home. “After he died on Friday, the police called us for his test report. It was positive,” Almeida said late on Friday night.
Significantly, the Salcete septuagenarian’s grandson’s wife, who was in late stages of pregnancy, had also contracted Covid-19, but was cured and discharged from the Covid hospital. Days later, she got admitted to Hospicio, Margao, and delivered a healthy baby.
Meanwhile, Goa’s active Covid-19 tally touched the 800-mark after 94 new infections were detected.
The day also saw the emergence of a new hotspot, Balli, which reported 21 new cases in a single day.
The cases in Balli came to light after a few villagers attended a wedding in nearby Ambelim, which has 24 active cases as on Friday. A health official confirmed that many of those who tested positive either attended or came in contact with those who attended the wedding, in which the bride herself tested positive.
Meanwhile in Mapusa, six individuals from Ganganagar tested positive on Friday. MLA Joshua D’Souza said that the six new cases are all neighbours of the first person from the area who tested positive. “They (the six) had earlier tested negative, but in repeat tests, they’ve tested positive,” he said.
Several other hotspots also witnessed a rise in cases, with Baina adding 12 cases to its tally, bringing the total to 66. Sakhali also saw 11 new cases, bringing its total up to 43. The town now has the highest Covid count in the state outside of Mormugao taluka. A health official said that swab samples were collected from more than 200 persons. “Cases started rising after two-three family members tested positive,” he said.
Porvorim too has seen a couple of cases over the past few days. One of these is a nurse attached to the ESI hospital in Margao, and the other a senior citizen who is undergoing treatment for cancer. “The cancer patient has been transferred to the Covid hospital from a private hospital,” a health official said.
It is suspected the cancer patient contracted the infection from her caretaker, who was with her in the private hospital. The caretaker has been quarantined and will be tested, the official said.
Meanwhile, D’Souza said that Ganganagar, which was barricaded after the first case was detected there a week ago, continues to be blocked.