the goan I network
PANAJI
Raising a serious concern over the ongoing outbreak of novel coronavirus in the world, the legislators demanded serious screening at railways stations along with airport in the tourist State. Health Minister Vishwajit Rane while admitting that there is no tracking system at railway stations said that anganwadi and teachers will be roped in to create awareness about the viral infection amongst common people.
“We have requested to include Goa airport in the list of thermal sensors. We have created two centres at Goa Medical college and Chicalim government hospital. World Health Organisation guidelines are followed strictly and specifically. People coming from China have been kept in isolation for 28 days immediately,” informed Health Minister Rane.
Vishwajit Rane informed that a special task force under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary has been formed to monitor the coronavirus spread.
“Immediately we will ask anganwadi and teachers to create awareness at the grassroots,” he added.
Opposition Leader Digambar Kamat who has raised the issue in the assembly session through a calling attention said that as per news Kerala has declared emergency and there may be more travellers coming from Kerala to the State than China. “Government has to take more precautions as far as people travelling to and fro from Kerala,” he demanded.
Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte said that the government should make adequate arrangements to screen tourists so that they do not suffer due to screening.
He also demanded that the tourism State should take proactive steps rather than waiting for Centre’s intervention to curb coronavirus spread.
While Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai criticised the tourism minister’s earlier venture to promote tourists from China, calling a 2008 visit of the tourism minister to China as junket. He demanded more funds for Health department to take precautionary measures against coronavirus.
Marcaim MLA Sudin Dhavalikar asked how the government is going to tackle if there are more patients in Goa.
Churchill Alemao demanded screening of people on railway stations.
However, Health Minister Rane admitted that though there are a lot of people moving to Kerala by trains, the State doesn’t have an exact monitoring system at the railway stations.
“We have asked the government of India to give us the scanners for the airport in Goa. We need a facility at the railway station too,” he said.
Rohan Khaunte suggested that health officials should take help of Goa University virology department which is working on the virus.
