the goan I network
MARGAO
Nationalist Congress party (NCP) lone MLA Churchill Alemao on Friday demanded that the government set up screening facilities at the railway station to contain the spread of Coronavirus in the State.
He also suggested that the government may take a decision on shutting down schools till such time
the Coronavirus epidemic is contained in the country.
Addressing the media, the Benaulim MLA pointed out that while visitors to Goa are being screened at the Dabolim airport, similar arrangements are not in place at the railway stations, including the Margao railway station, connected to the entire country. “While the screening of passengers at the airport is welcome, Goa faces a threat from the Coronavirus from the passengers arriving in the state visiting the State via the railways”, he said.
While saying that Kerala is one of the major state affected by the virus, Churchill said Kerala is linked to Goa by a number of trains, adding that unless the railway passengers are screened at the railway stations, Goans will face the threat of the
virus.
“More people come to Goa by the railways and hence the screening facilities as the railway
stations
should be beefed up”, he said, while saying that he would talk to the Chief Minister
on the matter.
While welcoming the decision to hold the ISL final at the Nehru stadium behind closed doors, the
Benaulim MLA said the government has taken the right step. He, however, hastened to add that the
government should also consider closing the schools for a few days before the situation returns to
normal. “Let us not wait for an epidemic to break out in Goa to shut down the schools”, he
added.
