Goa: After a week, drop in Covid deaths, infections

PANAJI: Goa’s Covid-19 toll rose to 290 with four deaths reported on Sunday. The state’s total active cases dropped to 5,173 as recoveries for the day exceeded the number of new cases detected. As many as 553 patients were cured and 407 new cases were detected.
All four deaths were reported from Goa Medical College (GMC) and hospital. Three men —a 75-year-old from Pernem, a 73-year-old from Arpora, a 72-year-old from Assagao and an 88-year-old woman from Sakhali—were given full treatment as per the protocol for an average period of seven to 11 days, Dr S M Bandekar, GMC dean said. All four had comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ischaemic heart disease and chronic pulmonary disease.
It is almost after a week that the state has seen a drop in Covid-related deaths. On Saturday, 10 Covid-19 fatalities were reported.
Porvorim hasn’t seen a dip in new infections, and on Sunday, its active count rose to 322 while the caseload of Sakhali reached 316. Panaji reported 20 new cases from Ribandar, Mala, Caranzalem, St Inez and Bhatlem and has 272 active ones. Mapusa’s cases rose to 188.
In South Goa, Vasco, Margao and Ponda also haven’t had much respite in terms of new infections.
Health minister Vishwajit Rane said that doctors and health officials are working overtime to convert the South Goa district hospital to a Covid-19 hospital and they expect to commission it by next Saturday. “The team is working to finish some arrangements, after which we shall be ready to commission it,” he said.
Two weeks ago, the government decided to commission a new Covid hospital in South Goa as beds in all facilities, government as well as private, were filled to capacity.
GMC has also opened more wards for Covid patients. If the spike continues at the present pace, it will make things difficult for the government to manage the pandemic, said a health official.