90-yr-old cured of Covid as Goa records 196 new cases

PANAJI: The state’s active Covid-19 count rose to 1,337 on Friday after 196 new infections were detected, the second-highest single-day caseload since the pandemic began. The Covid death count, too, increased to 21, after an unidentified person who was found dead on the streets of Margao tested positive.

The day also saw 129 patients declared cured and discharged, including a 90-year-old woman, one of the oldest persons in the state to be cured of Covid. She was at the ESI-Covid hospital for 23 days. A doctor said that though she was critical when admitted and suffered from dementia and malnutrition, her condition improved with treatment, and has been sent home. A couple of weeks ago, a 91-year-old woman was cured of Covid and discharged.
While the state crossed the 1 lakh mark for testing on Thursday, on Friday, it crossed the 1 lakh mark for reports received.
The state leads the national list in terms of tests per million, with the figure standing at over 67,000. Health officials said that the state’s strategy is to test at least 100-200 people in in area that reports more than one case.
Vasco, which has been severely hit by the pandemic, reported a rise in infections in Baina, New Vaddem and Zuarinagar, which is inching closer to the 200-mark. A former state cabinet minister from the port town and his family also tested positive on Friday. Recently, his brother succumbed to the virus.
Dean of Goa Medical College (GMC) and hospital Dr S M Bandekar said that the increase in cases is so high, they see at least 10-15 walk-in patients test positive for the virus everyday. The tertiary care hospital has two isolation wards, and patients are either referred to the ESI-Covid hospital or a care centre after the test.
While new cases were reported across the state, areas that witnessed a jump include Indiranagar in Chimbel, Panaji, Porvorim, Sakhali and Usgao. Porvorim added 8 more cases to its tally, taking it to 18, while Indiranagar now has 64 cases after 14 on Friday.
A health official said that intensive contact tracing was underway in Porvorim, where most of the new cases are contacts of those who tested positive for the virus over the past few days.