Goa: Infection intensifies, moves beyond containment zones

PANAJI: Covid-19 cases were being detected from certain pockets— hutments, building or residential areas—of towns and villages in early July. However, this is no longer true. Cases have spread beyond the limited area, signifying the heightened pace of infections in midst of monsoon when other viral infections are also on the rise.
For instance, Margao, which has crossed 100 confirmed cases, has infections detected from all over the town. The conditions in Mapusa, Ponda, Dharbandora or Porvorim that have more cases detected during the last 15 to 20 days, is not different from Vasco and Cortalim though their caseload may be comparatively low.
“We may not have 300 or 400 actives cases as reported in Vasco or Cortalim, but the underlying point is that now Covid-19 is everywhere,” a health officer in North Goa said.
In Margao, the initial cases came from Moti Dongor, a slum area of the commercial town, but now cases are being detected from all over the town, a health officer said. “It’s a sign that the virus is everywhere,” the officer said.
Another official said that the pattern of the spread of the infection in Margao is similar to that in Vasco in June. “People have thrown caution to the wind. Forget about observing social distancing norms, there are many who do not hesitate to organise celebrations such as birthday parties,” he said.
Primary health centres at Ponda and Dharbandora, which have seen infection in industrial workers, health workers and their families, have now people testing positive from various parts.
A health officer said that they have 12 new cases detected in Dharbandora on Sunday, but nine cases of industrial workers were outside his jurisdiction.
“They prefer to do testing in Dharbandora as the caseload here is less compared to Margao or Ponda,” he said.
While he said that there has been a dip in cases in the last two to three days in his jurisdiction, he is not confident that the situation will not change in a few days since the virus has spread.
Panaji’s suburbs, which have witnessed a spike, have cases reported from Socorro, Penha-de-Franca and Salvador de Mundo, three panchayats that comprise Porvorim.
The cases have been found in upmarket residential buildings, Vijaynagar, as well as other corners of Porvorim. The authorities are contemplating declaring Vijaynagar a micro containment zone with rise in cases there, an officer said.
Chief officer of the Mapusa Municipal council, Kabir Shirgaonkar, said that though they have not detected more cases in the city’s slum area, Ganganagar, the cases reported during the last few days have come up in various other parts of the town.
Meanwhile, Cuchelim, a closely-packed area near Tivim industrial area, continued to be sealed as test reports of some are still awaited.