CM: Goa fully prepared for possible third wave of COVID

NT NETWORK Panaji

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said Goa is fully prepared with the required infrastructure and human resource to face the expected third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He was speaking at a function organised to inaugurate the 31,000-litre oxygen storage tank at the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) premises at Bambolim.

The tank, installed by SBI Foundation under corporate social responsibility (CSR), was handed over to the state government on Monday.

Sawant said the medical infrastructure to face the likely third wave of COVID is being created as per the recommendations of an expert committee. “There is talk about a third wave of the pandemic. We don’t know whether it will come or not. But as a state government, we have created the required infrastructure and also trained the medical staff including paediatricians and nurses,” he said.

Sawant said the expert committee and the special task force have been meeting regularly and recommending various measures to the government. He said the state has enough oxygen facilities in all the government hospitals.

On vaccination, the Chief Minister said Goa is the only state, which has covered 90 per cent of the population above 18 years of age with the first dose of vaccine. “We are trying to cover 100 per cent eligible population with both the doses of vaccine by October-end,” he said. He further said it is not only the responsibility of the government but also the general public to take precautions so that we would be safe, if at all the third wave comes.

“Vaccination is the only way to fight coronavirus and also the possible third wave of the pandemic. Therefore, I appeal to the remaining 10 per cent of people to come forward and take their first dose of vaccine as soon as possible so that we can complete the second dose by the end of October,” Sawant said.

Dean of GMC Dr Shivanand Bandekar, general manager of SBI Sukvinder Kaur, chief executive officer of Goa CSR Authority Hemant Kumar and others were present at the function.

Later, speaking to the media, the Chief Minister said the government has not yet decided on reopening of the tourism industry. “We have extended the state-level curfew till August 23,” he said.