PANAJI: Health minister
Vishwajit Rane on Monday said that the current situation in Goa is “scary” and that people need to be cautious. He said young people need to stop partying and parents must ensure the youth stay home.
“I have seen that many restaurants are crowded,” Rane said. “Parties are happening on weekends in Morjim and elsewhere. It is a free for all. There should be restrictions on big gatherings, and swimming pools should be closed.” He added that tough measures need to be in place for at least a month.
Rane told reporters that a 50% restriction should be implemented at restaurants and gyms to ensure social distancing.
He also said that young people must understand the gravity of the situation. “People are seen dancing in clubs without masks. Action has to be taken against such clubs,” he said.
He said he was speaking “passionately” because the health infrastructure has been over overburdened over the past few day.
He also said the infectivity rate of the virus in the present phase of the
pandemic has been very high. The infections, he said, have been spreading faster with people not complying with
Covid measures.
“Some people move about even after testing positive,” he said. However, replying to a question, he said that he was not in favour of imposing
lockdowns.
The state’s coastal belts have been abuzz with parties on a regular basis since October-November 2020, and no sooner were lockdown measures eased, organisers regularly flouted Covid protocols, but the state administration hasn’t initiated action against any club or hotel so far.