PANAJI
The state government on Monday issued directions to drug manufacturing agencies through the Food and Drugs Administration to maintain a stock reserve of 5,000 units of Remdesivir in light of the nationwide shortage of the drug.
Coupled with a host of other emergency moves affected through the Health Department, it appears that the government has now begun bracing itself for the inevitable rise in Covid cases, possibly due to the spread of multiple strains of coronavirus, over the coming weeks.
The State Health Minister interacted with the FDA Director and instructed the agency to maintain sufficient inventory of the antiviral drug, Remdesivir.
He further announced that advanced tests, D-Dimer and Interleukin 6, will now be made available free of cost at Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim for Covid-19 patients. “These tests will be useful in monitoring the patient's progression to Covid-19 related cytokine storms and help in timely medical intervention to reduce fatality.”
He also informed that a review meeting was convened on Monday with the officials from the Health Department and GMC Dean to review arrangements at South Goa District Hospital. “We shall be requisitioning additional staff at SGDH along with shuttle services for consultants and doctors to and from GMC,” the Health Minister disclosed.
He reiterated the department’s ongoing efforts at setting up a genome testing facility to ascertain different variants of coronavirus and thereby expedite sample testing. Currently, the department is in the process of exploring options for procurement of equipment for establishing the sequencing facility.
Goa asks for one lakh more vaccine doses
PANAJI: The Health Department has forwarded a written request to the central government for one lakh more doses of the Covid vaccine to be administered to the beneficiaries during the ongoing Tika Utsav which has been extended till April 20 in the state. Exactly a week ago, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had declared that “Goa currently has around 1.25 lakh vaccine doses, stock which is enough for now.”
Two deaths, 476 new cases
PANAJI: 476 new Covid cases have been added to Goa’s tally raising the total confirmed cases to 62,780 since April 4. Also, two more Covid related deaths were recorded in the mortality bulletin of the Health Department. With 19 Covid deaths since April 1, the victim count now stands at 850.
The daily positivity rate of Covid cases in the state crossed 20 per cent once again on Monday with 476 new cases being detected from among the 2,280 samples tested. Correspondingly, the recovery rate in the state has dropped to 91.38 per cent.
The active Covid cases in the state on Monday touched 4,565 with the total active cases under Primary Health Centre Porvorim peaking at 499.
Meanwhile, the Covid vaccination drive in the state is picking up pace under the Tika Utsav, the ongoing national mass vaccination drive with a total of 24,700 being vaccinated since Saturday.
Goa can be Covid-free if all above
45 years get vaccinated: Mauvin
VASCO: Panchayats Minister Mauvin Godinho on Monday said the State could be Covid-free if all people above 45 years get themselves vaccinated.
Speaking to reporters during the 'Tika Utsav' vaccination drive organised by the State government at the Chicalim panchayat, Godinho appealed to those above 45 years to get themselves vaccinated to help the State and nation fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
"As part of the 'Tika Utsav' campaign, a team of doctors and staff of the Cortalim Primary Health Centre will carry out the vaccination drive till April 14,” said Godinho.
“We will approach all those above 45 years from all wards to take the vaccine and our panchayat staff is already on the job. We will vaccinate a maximum number of people. We have requested all panchayats in the State to take up this drive," said Godinho.
“We can make Goa a Covid-free state if all people above 45 years begin taking these vaccines," said Godinho.
Cortalim Panch Marie Mascarenhas volunteered to be the first person to get vaccinated during the Tika Utsav program at Chicalim Panchayat.
