Goa: Lockdown proves successful in Mapusa

SALIGAO: The extension of restrictions to curb the spread of Covid-19 is necessary as this will help break the chain of infection, said Mapusa Merchants Association president Ashish Shirodkar.
The three-day lockdown was largely successful in Mapusa with most shops and establishment keeping shutters down. A few supermarkets and grocery shops were open, but not many people seen at these shops.
Shirodkar said that after deputy collector Kapil Phadte said that shops could be kept open provided SOPs are followed, they in turn asked their members to take a decision on the same, but that keeping in mind the rising cases and rate of infection, the merchants took a decision to keep their shops shut. “The lives of the people are more important than business and merchants have co-operated and shut their shops in the market,” Shirodkar said. “Now the government should pay due attention to ensure that the chain of the infection is broken.”
Siolim MLA Vinod Palyekar too called for an extension of the lockdown as a precautionary measure before the state slips into the red zone.