MARGAO
Saying there is no immediate plan to set up a Covid hospital in North Goa, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said it will take minimum 60 days to complete work in the GMC super specialty block to make it ready to house a Covid hospital.
He pointed out that building the infrastructure at the South Goa district hospital by using the 566 bed capacity for Covid in a phased manner will help in handling the situation.
When the media pointed out that all the Covid hospitals are set up in South Goa when there is space available in the GMC to house a Covid hospital, the Health Minister said it will take 60 days time to spruce up the facilities, including furniture in the super-specialty block before it is thrown up for Covid care.
He, however, hastened to add that a fourth Covid hospital may not be needed if the present capacity is utilized to the optimum and the Covid kits are distributed to the patients in home isolation and monitored properly.
Attributing the death of five Covid patients on Saturday within six hours of their admission to late admission, the Health Minister made a plea to the people not to waste time at home, but immediately rush to the Covid hospital if they have fever or other symptoms.
“On Saturday, five patients have died within six hours of their admission after they were gasping for breath. They were all brought to the hospital at the last minute after their health condition deteriorated, making it difficult for doctors to them. My humble plea to the people is to just rush to the hospital if they don’t feel good or have fever,” he said.
