PANAJI
In-patients in all government hospitals and facilities will be compulsorily tested for Covid using the antigen testing kits in view of the upsurge over the last several days and the process has already begun across the State.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said, he has also instructed the team at the Goa Medical College, Bambolim to activate the genome sequencing machine on the premises.
Rane also said RTPCR testing and genome sequencing if necessary will be performed in accordance with protocols and SOPs.
Rane disclosed this in tweets after attending a virtual conference chaired by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandviya to review Covid-19 situation with Health Ministers of States & Union Territories across the country.
According to Rane, Goa has the highest number of tests per million people. He also said that emergency vaccination requirements are provided in Goa to whoever needs it as a booster and also for travel purposes.
Meanwhile, Goa will join all other States in conducting a mock drill at its Covid designated hospitals on Monday and Tuesday for on-site review of preparedness.
On Friday, the State reported 89 fresh cases of Covid-19 a day after it had reported almost double that number (160 cases) on Thursday. With 120 recoveries reported on Friday, the State’s active Covid-19 caseload now stands at 841 but it is the positivity rate hovering in the 12% region that is worrisome.
Meanwhile, the rise in Covid cases is indicative of the SARS-CoV-2 virus moving into an endemic state in India and behaving like other coronaviruses that cause common cold-like symptoms and can keep reinfecting, say scientists.
