PANAJI
Thirteen out of the 16 hospitalised Covid patients who are in serious condition are unvaccinated, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Tuesday, while expressing concern about the rising infection rate in the poll-bound State.
In a joint press conference addressed by Sawant, Health Minister and top health officials, HM also said that the State health authorities were now treating all Covid cases as infections with the deemed Omicron variant, adding that the government was no longer "waiting for genome testing" of Covid positive cases suspected to be infected with the Omicron variant.
"Those who have died have not been vaccinated. Out of the six deaths yesterday, five patients had not taken a single Covid vaccine dose. All eligible persons should take vaccines," Sawant told reporters at a press conference after taking a review of the Covid scenario in Goa.
"Out of the 16 Covid patients who are serious, 13 have not taken vaccines. Three others have taken only a single dose. I want to inform people that those who are not vaccinated are developing complications. Those who are not vaccinated should get themselves jabbed. Follow Covid norms. Only if we follow them, will our positivity rate decline," Sawant also said.
The media briefing comes at a time when the Covid infection rate in the coastal state has crossed 41 percent. HM said that for now all Covid cases detected in the State were treated as Omicron cases and the national protocol was being followed in the treatment.
"We are assuming that these are Omicron cases. We are not waiting for genome testing. We are following the protocol which is in place in the rest of the country," he said.
The Health Minister also said that the entire staff posted at his Valpoi office had tested positive for Covid, claiming that his staffers had failed to get themselves tested in time, which led to the spread of infection to the rest.
"In my Valpoi office, my entire staff has Covid. Why did they get Covid. When they get a cold and develop symptoms, they do not check. They are afraid to check. People should go to the PHCs to get tested," he said.
"Even if you have a slight flu or body ache please go and get yourself tested for Covid, because once you know you have Covid, then the medication can start and we can keep you safe. If it is absolutely mild, you can do your home isolation..." he added, urging the residents of the state to act responsibly to contain the situation.
Earlier, Sawant also said that while more than 100 percent of the State's population had been vaccinated, those who had preferred to stay unvaccinated were a disservice to their community.
"We have vaccinated 100 percent of the population. But there are those who are insisting on not being vaccinated, we are seeing the ill effect of such an attitude now. My request to all is to get vaccinated as soon as possible," the Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister further said that the Goa government had started 24x7 Covid casualty facilities in both districts of the State.
