Mortalities rising as people delaying treatment: Goa CM

PANAJI: Goa’s Covid-19 toll shot up to 276 following eight deaths on Friday. The active Covid cases rose to 5,104 with 555 new infections. Also, 473 patients were cured.
Five deaths were reported from Goa Medical College (GMC) and hospital, two from the ESI-Covid hospital, one each from South Goa district hospital, Margao, and a private hospital in South Goa.
Of the eight mortalities, only one patient – a 44-year-old woman from Quepem—had no history of comorbid conditions. She died within six days of admission and had developed acute respiratory distress symptoms immediately after her admission to the hospital. Other patients, except one, were hospitalised for less than a week.
A 41-year-old man from Vasco who was admitted with comorbidity – hypertension with acute kidney injury – on August 21, died on Thursday at ESI-Covid hospital. A 63-year-old man from Ponda also died in ESI hospital.
A 53-year-old woman from Ponda having comorbid conditions died at a private hospital in Vasco. Other casualties reported from GMC are that of a 46-year-old man from Parra, a 79-year-old man from Mala, Panaji, a 74-year-old man from Margao, and a 45-year-old man from Agasaim.
Chief minister Pramod Sawant told reporters that mortalities have risen since some people delay in seeking medical treatment and some patients have comorbid conditions.
Meanwhile, Panaji continued to see a spike in cases as 31 new infections were reported on Friday.
Mayor Uday Madkaikar said some people, despite warnings and awareness, report late for treatment. “People continue to stay home without seeking medical help even if they have cough and fever. They think it is a common cold and they will be cured,” he said.
On Wednesday, 14 people from a family of 30 in Bhatlem tested positive, including a former councillor. “The family members were subjected to a Covid test after the death of a 70-year-old man. The man had tested positive,” Madkaikar said.