THE surge in Covid-19 infections post-Chovoth continues with 451 fresh cases on Sunday. Margao the commercial capital has overtaken even Vasco with 472, the highest statistic in Covid-19 or the diabolical so called Chinese coronavirus infection which is holding everyone’s life at ransom.
The latest VIP victim is former south Goa MP and NRI Commissioner Narendra Sawaikar. The Secretariat has virtually shut down following the discovery of large number of Covid-19 positive cases amongst government employees. It is reportedly working only up to 50% of its capacity.
FREE ENTRY
EFFECTIVE September 1 the Goa government has dropped all restrictions on entry into Goa. People seeking entry into Goa may do so freely without providing any Covid-19 free certificates. The compulsory 14-day quarantine period upon entry is also withdrawn. The only exception applies to drivers of goods vehicles who will have to stay in a quarantine centre till the result of their test clears them free of infection.
LIQUOR FLOWS
FROM September 1 all bars and pubs, including bars attached to restaurants, are free to serve alcohol. They will however have to implement standard precautions like the wearing of masks, hand sanitization and social distancing.
BACK TO WORSHIP
EFFECTIVE Sept 1 all religious establishments are open for worship including mosques. Namaaz may be offered but not on Fridays. Similarly, churches and temples have opened to devotees but social distancing is being maintained on chairs and benches with nobody sitting closely together. In churches benches have been replaced by chairs to ensure strict social distancing. The wearing of masks too is compulsory in all religious places as also hand sanitization upon entry and exit.
SOCIAL DISTANCING BEST!
DR IRA ALMEDIA who is in charge of the Covid-19 hospital in Margao has offered her advice that masks do not offer sufficient protection against Covid-19, as also people do not wear their masks correctly and take chances all the time. Her guidelines are to masks strung around the neck are like a trap for virus and pulling them up on the face when required is nonsense for the mask may be a trap for the coronavirus – a mask at all times should be firmly fitting at the chin and the nose.
Dr Ira too stresses that social distancing is the best safety precaution. Closed, cramped spaces increase chances of infection so don’t visit closed places without good ventilation. If you experience any of the Covid-19 symptoms do not neglect or wait for them to clear up – get yourself tested and consult your doctor. In case of contact with a positive patient, symptoms show up only after a week or so.
PLASMA THERAPY
ACCORDING to GMC’s Dean Dr SM Bandekar, plasma therapy is effective mostly on the cases which are mildly affected by the coronavirus. Also, an infected person is best served if he or she is treated with plasma therapy within three days of catching the infection, it doesn’t help much in the case of critical patients.
The GMC dean has already admitted that treatment of other serious cases like cardiac and routine surgery are affected by diversion of resources to treating Covid-19.