the goan I network
PANAJI
The number of COVID-19 positive cases almost doubled in a single day on Thursday in Belagavi from 19 to 36, worrying officials in Goa handling policy making for the strategy to tackle the pandemic.
Seventeen fresh cases of patients testing positive for the Coronavirus on Thursday were reported in Belagavi district on which Goa is heavily dependent for food imports, including vegetables and milk.
This is the highest number of cases reported in a single day in Belagavi ever since Coronavirus made its entry into Karnataka.
On Wednesday, the State Executive Committee headed by Chief Secretary Parimal Rai had acceded to advice from Health director Dr Jose D'Sa to avoid disinfectant tunnels at the border checkposts due to potential side-effects of the disinfectant chemical mist used.
"But Thursday's alarming spike Belagavi's cases may force the SEC to revisit the issue," a top health official said.
There are growing fears that the dreaded virus could find its way to Goa, given the considerable trade and transportation of essential goods between Belagavi and Goa.
Also, the 36 Belagavi cases include three residents from Goa and an 80-year-old woman died on Sunday due to the infection.
Kudachi town in Raibag taluka, which now has the maximum number of COVID-19 positive cases, is about 115 kms by road and about 105 kms by train towards Miraj in Maharashtra. Hirebagevadi has several cases and is also emerging as a major epicentre of the outbreak.
This unexpected development that has caused alarm among people in the region will expectedly raise concerns in Goa, given that community transmission has reached closer to Goa.
As Goa depends on Belagavi for vegetables, milk and other essential commodities, there are growing fears that the dreaded virus could reach Goa, given the daily transportation of these essential goods from Belagavi to Goa.
This has prompted calls for closer monitoring of those engaged in the transportation and supply of these commodities to Goa.
With Belagavi on a surge, the focus of attention and concern in Goa will now be on the easy movement of drivers and cleaners on vehicles carrying food and essential supplies into the State.
Concerns about porous border check posts at Dodamarg, Keri and Patradevi in the north and Polem in the South are already being raised by people.
There have been complaints that drivers and cleaners from other States are not subjected to proper checks by authorities at the check posts and as a result, there is little or no medical and travel history of these persons entering the State.
Besides, there is no check to ensure that the drivers and cleaners exit the State by the same vehicle. There have also been claims that hidden routes used by illegal liquor traffickers are also being used by some people to enter the State.
