PANAJI
Over 16 UK returnees from among the over 900 passengers who have arrived in the state since December 8 have tested positive for Covid-19 so far in Goa. Of these 900, around 400 passengers have been contacted and their samples have been collected for Covid tests.
It has been learnt that samples of 16 UK returnees who have tested positive will be forwarded to the National Institute of Virology, Pune for genomic study to verify whether any of them have been infected by the new mutated strain of the coronavirus which is presently tormenting the UK. The Health Department has announced its intentions to shift these persons to the ESI Covid Hospital in Margao. Most located in Canacona.
Meanwhile, three Covid deaths have been reported in the mortality bulletin released by the Directorate of Health Services on Saturday. With this, the total Covid victim count of Goa has touched 731.
The deceased persons include a 62-year-old woman from Quepem, a 68-year-old man from Caranzalem and a 60-year-old man from Bicholim.
Additionally, 61 new cases were detected from among the 1,205 samples tested in the last 24 hours. A total of 50,594 cases have been confirmed till date of which 951 are currently active and 48,913 have recovered.
The recovery rate stands at 96.67 per cent.
