PORVORIM: Chief minister
Pramod Sawant said on Friday that he would ask
health minister Vishwajit Rane to issue a new standard operating procedure (SOP) for Covid-19 in the state. The
CM’s statement came on the floor of the House after MLAs raised concerns over the spread of the disease. He said the new SOP would be “implemented strictly”.
Rane, meawhile, said that the government would shift the 30-odd casino staffers who tested positive to the South Goa district hospital immediately, and denotify the micro-containment zone at a housing complex in Porvorim after people from the area became apprehensive. Rane also said that casino operators would be asked to conduct Covid-19 tests on all staffers.
“SOPs on preventive measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 in the state, imposing restrictions on movement, and other (measures) are being examined by the government,” Rane said.
The opposition demanded that the government declares the offshore casino on the Mandovi a micro-containment zone.
Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte said that till date, the government has not declared the casino as a micro-containment zone. He said that the casino staffers should have been shifted to the
Covid centre. Khaunte also said that nightlife is continuing in the state as usual. “Where is the use of face masks and social distancing? The CM should assure the House that he will shut casinos,” Khaunte said.
“There is fear and anxiety in the minds of the people due to the absence of Covid protocols in the state,” Khaunte said in his calling attention motion. “Goa was among the first few states in the country to be declared Covid-free, but due to the lack of restrictions on outsiders entering the state, despite foresight of its repercussions, Goa was stripped of its ‘green zone’ title.”
Khaunte said that once again, on the arrival of the second wave, the state government stands unguarded welcoming outsiders. “Our neighboring states like Maharashtra have imposed strict Covid-testing protocols on arrival, to prohibit all possible suspects from entering the state,” he said. “The (Goa) government needs to take similar steps at this preliminary stage to prevent community transmission of the virus.”
He further said that while Covid is fast spreading in the state, the government is permitting exhibitions.
Replying to the motion, Rane said that Goa is a tourist destination, and that the government needs to manage Covid as well as ensure no panic in the minds of the people. “The flexibility of testing and other measures we’re providing are as per the video-conference held with the PM,” he said. “It was very clearly mentioned to take precautions but not to unnecessarily create panic.”
Speaking on the issue of asking for a Covid-negative certificate from those entering Goa, Rane said that he also suggested the same. “A Covid-19 negative certificate can be also purchased, and I want to bring it to the notice of MLAs that we are doing everything possible,” Rane said, adding, “At the same time, we have to co-exist with business. There is no 100% guarantee that with a Covid-negative certificate, a person will be Covid-free.”
Khaunte said that the death of over 800 people due to Covid is also a big number. Meanwhile, Poriem MLA Pratapsingh Rane said that the government should strictly enforce mask-use in the state. Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said that asking for a Covid-19 negative certificate is not to stop tourism, but that there should be a balance between life and livelihood.