North Goa’s prime beach villages, namely Baga, Calangute and Anjuna, have been tagged as ‘very high-risk areas’ with a high chance of people contracting COVID-19 when here. Along with these 3, other such places in various parts of Goa, have been also been analysed and categorised. The conclusions resonate with the findings of a GPS mapping exercise of COVID-19 cases, conducted by the state’s top government hospital.
Night curfew decision influenced by the research
At the moment, these three North Goa beach villages are recording hordes of long-staying tourists and work-from-home professionals, who have come over in the last few months, in wake of the pandemic. On the other hand, one of the biggest towns in the state, South Goa’s Fatorda and the port city of Vasco da Gama and Gogol, are also on the list of ‘very high-risk areas’.
The study conducted by the Goa Medical College, has also identified urban hubs like Porvorim and St. Inez, both suburbs of Panjim, and Mapusa, under the same category. They have further been coded pink in the study, administered in North Goa districts. It is also reported that this research had also influenced the decision of the state authorities to impose a night curfew from 10 PM to 6 AM, till April 30.
‘Very high-risk areas’ located in the populated & tourism-friendly coastal belt of Goa
The study has mapped the entire expanse of the state with the use of GPS and consequently, it has been observed that most of the identified high-risk regions are located in the populated and tourism-friendly coastal belt of Goa. the sunshine state has witnessed a deluge of COVID-19 cases over the past few weeks, in sync with the infection patterns witnessed in most parts of the country.
Keeping the steep spike in view, Class 10 and 12 board examinations which were scheduled to be held in the months of April and May, have also been postponed. Dr. Shivanand Bandekar, Dean of Goa Medical College, stated that people who have developed COVID-like symptoms and are awaiting test results, should focus on building their immunity by consuming the prescribed medication.
As of Thursday, the state has reported 1,410 new COVID-19 cases and 21 victims who have succumbed to the virus. The state currently has a positivity rate of 36.09% and 10,228 active coronavirus infections.
