the goan I network
PANAJI
Taking a serious note of the exponential increase of coronavirus cases in the country and globally, State Government on Friday invoked the Epidemic Disease Act, 1897 empowering the health officials to take appropriate steps in the interest of the health of the people of Goa.
Speaking to the media following a discussion with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane stated, “We are invoking this Epidemic Disease Act, 1897 in view of the exponential increase of Novel Coronavirus cases all over the country. Cases are rising every single day. Our neighbouring state of Maharashtra has gone in for a total shutdown. This Act gives overriding powers to the health ministry to give directions to any institution according to what we deem fit for the health of the people of Goa.”
He pointed out that Goa, flanked by Maharashtra and Karnataka, had to take some stringent measures to ensure public health safety. While Maharashtra government has declared a shutdown of schools and public places over the next 15 to 20 days till further notice, Karnataka has reported the first death of a person in the country who tested positive for the dreaded COVID-19.
Rane highlighted that the Government of India, through a letter, has said that it is necessary for the state governments in order to ensure that they are carrying out the work in a much more streamlined and efficient manner, it is necessary for every state government which deems fit to invoke the Epidemic Act, 1897 of the Disaster Management Act and various other provisions under the Indian Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code. “As states get empowered under these, we are in a better position to take precautionary and preventive steps,” said the Health Minister.
Although the regulations state that the Act will be in force for a year from the date of publication, the Health Department has disclosed that it will keep the Act in force for at least three to five months while monitoring the global
situation.
Under this Act, the authorized persons are the Health Secretary, District Collectors, Health Director, State Surveillance Officer, medical officers in-charge of Community Health Centres (CHCs), Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Urban Health Centres (UHCs) in the districts and officers as authorized by the Health Department.
During the time that this Act is in force, all private and government hospitals are to have flu corners segregated from common OPDs for screening suspected cases of COVID-19 and identify separate beds for isolation if the need arises. While screening, travel history of the patients will be recorded along with contact history with any suspected or confirmed cases.
No private laboratories have been authorized to take or test samples for COVID-19 in Goa.
The Department has also prohibited the spread of rumours of unauthenticated information regarding COVID-19. Anyone found indulging in such activities will be treated as punishable offence under the regulations of the Act.
In addition to this, the department has made mandatory the self-reporting of persons with a travel history to a country or area where confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been recorded. Such persons are to report to the nearest government hospital or call toll free helpline number 104.
The Epidemic Disease Act empowers the district administration to take strict containment measures if any cases of COVID-19 are reported from a defined geographic area. The district administration can then seal the entire geographical area, bar entry and exit into this area, close down schools, offices and ban public gatherings, ban vehicular movement in the area, initiate active and passive surveillance of COVID-19, hospital isolation of suspects, designate a government building as a containment unit for isolation and adopt any other measures as it deems fit.
The District Management Committee headed by the Collector is authorized for planning strategy regarding containment measures for COVID-19 in their respective districts.
Persons found in violation of any provisions under these regulations shall be punished under Section 188 of IPC.
