Goa Coronavirus cases rise to 7, 5 cured

• Currently, there are 2 active cases of Coronavirus in the state.
• Over 1,000 people are under quarantine at their homes and government facilities in the state.
• Government officials in the state said that the two patients are stable.

Goa reported no new cases of Coronavirus on April 15, which means the total number of cases in the state stands at 7. Out of the seven patients, five patients work on a ship and have a history of international travel. Goa also reported that out of the 7 patients, five patients have recovered.

The Goa government has launched an app, named COVID-Locator to help the health department trach suspected and asymptomatic carriers of Coronavirus when the break quarantine.


Panaji civic corporation bans sale of chewing gum

Goa's only civic corporation, the Corporation of the City of Panaji on Tuesday, banned the sale of chewing gum, along with other chewing tobacco-related products in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, till further notice.

"The Corporation has decided to ban sale and consumption of chewing tobacco in all forms. Also ban on sale of chewing gum. Please take note that if any shopkeepers is found selling these items, strict action will be taken," Panaji Mayor Uday Madkaikar said on Tuesday.

Goa government launches app to track quarantined suspects

Amid repeated pleas by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant urging those in home-quarantine not to leave their homes, the state Health Department on Sunday launched COVIDLocator, a GPS-based app to keep track of quarantined persons.

"The app will help in tracking suspected and asymptomatic carriers of coronavirus when they leave their quarantine zone," a statement issued by the state Health department said, adding that the app had been developed by the Goa government in association with Delhi-based Intugine technologies.

Goa IMA advises doctors not to treat patients in private OPDs

Doctors in Goa above the age of 60 years have been urged not to treat patients in private outpatient departments (OPD) by the Goa chapter of the Indian Medical Association. This comes at a time when the state government has urged private practitioners to resume practice and start operating clinics and hospitals to prevent stress on government health infrastructure.

"We request our IMA Goa members to adhere to following guidelines. Those doctors above the age of 60 years to avoid OPD services as far as possible," an advisory issued by state IMA chapter president Dr S. Samuel Arawattigi said in a statement late on Tuesday.

Goa government has no information about Tablighi Jamaat attendees

The Goa government has no information as to whether persons from Goa attended the religious function organised by the Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi's Nizamuddin area, which has resulted in several Coronavirus cases in other parts of the country.

When asked if he was aware of any person from Goa returning to the state, after attending the meeting in Nizamuddin earlier this month, Sawant on Tuesday said: "I have no information. I will check with the police".

317 Europeans evacuated from state

At least 317 Germans and European passengers were evacuated from Goa early on Tuesday, the official Twitter handle of the Goa International Airport said. According to the acting Director General of Police Jaspal Singh, around 1,200 foreigners are expected to be evacuated by weekend.

On March 30, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had said that nearly 1,600 foreigners were stranded in Goa due to the ongoing Coronavirus lockdown. He said that more special flights were headed for Goa for evacuation of more stranded foreign tourists on April 3 and 4.

Parrikar’s son claims people are going hungry in Panaji

Panaji is reeling under severe food and groceries shortage amid the ongoing lockdown like other parts of Goa. Late Manohar Parrikar’s son Utpal on Monday participated in a drive to deliver essential groceries to 500 people living in the late Defence Minister's home constituency.

Former Panaji MLA and BJP leader Sidharth Kuncalienkar has also alleged a scam in the diversion of essential goods in the home delivery mechanism devised by the city corporation which is controlled by the BJP.

Passenger from Mumbai to Goa flight tests positive

The state Directorate of Health Services on Monday said, that those who travelled on a Vistara flight from Mumbai to Goa on March 22, which incidentally carried a COVID-19 positive patient, should report to the health authorities without delay.

"One of the patients declared positive for Coronavirus on March 29 at Goa Medical College has travel history from New York to Mumbai and then by Vistara domestic flight UK861 from Mumbai to Goa on March 22," a notice issued by DHS on Monday said.

People violating lockdown to buy shampoo

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said that he was irked by some people, who prefer to violate the 21-day lockdown to buy something as trivial as a shampoo.

"Those who need to step out to buy essential goods for the house, one person from the family should step out and buy it. We have seen that people even leave their homes during the lockdown to buy shampoo." Sawant told IANS.

Twitter slams Goa government for food shortage, CRPF deployment

Amid growing unease over inability of food and essential items in Goa and the state government's decision to give central paramilitary forces a "free hand" to punish curfew violators, several voices on Twitter have attempted to highlight the plight of a population which has been facing a lockdown as a food shortage for as many as eight days in a row.

With inputs from IANS.

See also:
Coronavirus cases in Telangana
Coronavirus cases in Andhra Pradesh
Coronavirus cases in Gujarat
Coronavirus cases in Bihar