In a bid to boost Goa’s recovery amid the surging spell of COVID-19 infection, the state Health Minister on Monday, stated that the government is to convert the North Goa District Hospital into a dedicated coronavirus treatment facility. The hospital will provide with additional number of beds and oxygen supply in the present scenario of high demand and severe shortage. Located about 9 km from Panjim in Mapusa town, this hospital was not treating coronavirus patients, until now.
COVID treatment facilities in Goa
To ensure we are equipped in view of the rising cases, we are planning to convert the North Goa District hospital as a notified Covid hospital in phases with additional number of beds and oxygen supply.
— VishwajitRane (@visrane) April 26, 2021
The rate of COVID-19 recovery is expected to rise in Goa with the commissioning of North Goa District Hospital as a treatment centre. The Health Minister announced on his Twitter, “To ensure we are equipped in view of the rising cases, we are planning to convert the North Goa District hospital as a notified Covid hospital in phases with additional number of beds and oxygen supply.” Earlier on Saturday, the Chief Minister also announced that the ESI Hospital in Margao has also been reactivated as a COVID care centre.
Meanwhile, the state has further ramped up capacities of existing COVID treatment facilities. Around 60 beds were provided at the 180-bed Goa Medical College and Hospital, around 150 beds were set up at the South Goa District Hospital in Margao in addition to the earlier 309, the CM added. At the same time, the government has also regulated the cost of treatment in private hospitals across the state, to ensure affordable treatment for all, in the emergency hour.
Limited number of attendees in events
While the Chief Minister has ruled out a lockdown in Goa, he has stressed on the enforcement of “harsh decision” if the high transmission continues. Parallelly, the police and the district administrations in Goa have been directed to crack down on crowded weddings and other functions, the Chief Minister said on Monday, after a record 38 persons died within 24 hours due to COVID-19 related complications.
“We have not decided on lockdown. We will crackdown on the Covid protocol violators strictly now. The police have been instructed to take action to ensure that there are no crowds at functions, including weddings. People should not say we have stopped (events) then. Before going into lockdown, we will have to stop functions,” he added.
On Monday, Goa reported 2,321 new COVID-19 cases and 38 fatalities, taking the count of infections to 79, 798 and the toll to 1,055. As yet, 63,483 people have recovered from the viral infection, while there are 15,260 active COVID-19 cases in the state, as per official figures.
