PORVORIM
Porvorim has become one of the Covid hotspots in the State, with cases spiking from 33 to 200 in barely 18 days.
According to the official health bulletin, the Porvorim Primary Health Centre (PHC) had recorded barely 33 active cases on March 16, but it shot up to an alarming 200 active cases on Friday, only second to cases recorded by Panaji Urban Health Centre (210) in the State.
Around 30 cases were recently detected when staffers of a casino had tested positive and authorities had even sealed one block of a residential building.
When contacted, Porvorim PHC Health officer Dr Vikas Naik squarely blamed public negligence for the rise in Covid cases.
“During Holi celebrations, people have not observed the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) lay down by the health department and may were behaving as if coronavirus has disappeared from Goa,” lamented Dr Naik.
“The PHC has now increased Covid testing and we have begun the protocol of Test, Track and Treat so that more cases are detected.”
“This second Covid wave is spreading faster than the first wave and hence, public must wear masks, maintain social distancing and use sanitisers, as this is absolutely essential to keep Covid under control,” said Dr Naik.
The health officer said there had been a good response from people about 45 years seeking the Covid vaccines.
“The PHC administered Covid vaccines to 120 people on Thursday and 117 others on Friday. According to new guidelines from the health ministry, the second Covid dose needs to be administered within 6-8 weeks from the first dose,” Dr Naik added.
