Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday said a coordinated effort by the health department and police helped the state become novel coronavirus-free in quick time. Goa has not reported a single positive case of Covid-19 since April 3.
Sawant said, “Our medical teams and police worked very efficiently to detect and treat coronavirus patients and protect others from getting the pandemic infection.”
He dismissed the allegation that Goa has conducted fewer tests raising doubt that there could be hidden cases of novel coronavirus infection in the state. Goa has conducted only around 2,500 tests for novel coronavirus. The state recorded a total of seven cases of Covid-19.
Sawant said, “This impression is not true. One has to look at our population size. Goa has a population of just 2.5 lakh. We have done 2,500 tests and compared to national testing ratio, Goa has done better.”
“Further, we have completed door-to-door survey for coronavirus infection. All those who were found to be having symptoms of ILI (influenza-like illness) were tested. We are confident that there is no existing case of coronavirus in Goa today. If a new case comes from outside, we will tackle that too,” Sawant said.
Coronavirus outbreak happened in India at a time that is the peak season of tourism in Goa. Sawant said tourism has been hit but he said tourists are “welcome” in Goa. On a question about migrant workers in Goa, he said, “There is no active case of coronavirus in Goa. Unlike other states where all migrant workers want to go back home, around 50 per cent of them are willing to go back.”
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