Locality in Betqui is micro containment zone

Ponda: Considering the spike in COVID-19 cases, the South Goa district collector  on Sunday declared parts of Haldanwada (ward 5) in Betqui-Candola village in Priol constituency as a micro containment zone and a buffer zone to prevent the spread of the coronavirus to adjoining areas.

The Haldanwada localities have become the first containment zone in Ponda taluka.

Following the declaration of the containment zone, roads leading to Haldanwada have been barricaded by Ponda police. There are some 15 houses in the area.

The local panchayat has taken responsibility to supply all the essential commodities to the people living in the containment zone.

Some 39 people from six households of Haldanwada tested positive for the coronavirus recently, forcing the government to declare the area as a micro containment zone.

The COVID positive people have been admitted to COVID care centres, even as their neighbours and other people are being tested, officials said.

Speaking on the development, Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude stated that he has been monitoring the situation in the village, and that all precautionary measures are being taken by the government. 

“Extensive testing of the people in the village has commenced… more than 100 people underwent the COVID test. Most of them have tested negative for the coronavirus,” Gaude said.

Taking a serious note of the rising coronavirus cases in Betqui-Candola village, neighbouring Tivre-Orgao village has decided to restrict

transaction timing of the marketplace from 7 am to 11 am.