PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday made an open plea to all political parties to not conduct large campaign meetings amid a steep spike in active Covid-related cases in the State, which have reached 16,887.
Speaking to reporters after a video conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, government of India officials and other Chief Ministers, Sawant said, "all political parties should not conduct large meetings. Conduct smaller meetings with social distancing norms".
Sawant also said that the Prime Minister and central Health Ministry officials gauged the overall Covid situation in the country and positivity rates and the existing health infrastructure in Goa as well as other States was also reviewed.
"They gauged the overall Covid situation in the country and reviewed the positivity rate and health infrastructure in states. They have told us to concentrate on vaccination. 100 percent vaccination should be done. There was stress on vaccination on those in the age groups of 15 to 18 years, as well as booster doses for those who are 60 years and above," Sawant said.
"It was observed that even though the positivity rate was increasing fast, the hospitalisation and ICU usage is less. We have seen this in Goa too, that one percent of patients are being hospitalised and the recovery rate is 91 to 92 percent," he also said.
Sawant also urged the people of the state to follow Covid protocol and observe restrictions put in place by the government.
"Precautions like wearing of masks and sanitisation are necessary along with vaccination. In their message it was also conveyed that stopping economic activity will not help. some states have imposed restrictions," the Chief Minister said.
"It is important that people follow the restrictions in place in our state, especially in crowded places," he added.
Goa currently has 16,887 active cases, while the state reported 3,728 new cases on Thursday.
