PANAJI
The worst of the Covid third wave is behind us in Goa, top health officials said on Tuesday.
Addressing a press conference in Panaji, Health Secretary YVVS Rajshekhar also said that the daily case count in the state had dipped considerably since January 19, when the infection rate had crept close to 40 per cent.
“We definitely know that the cases are now declining. Today we have 325 beds used in the whole state. Out of 325 beds, beds without oxygen support are 216, those with oxygen support are only 77. ICU beds used for Covid patients are 32 of which only five patients are on ventilators,” Director of Health Services Dr Ira Almeida said, adding that the state had crossed the peak of the third wave of the pandemic.
She also said that the third wave had impacted children, but added that the good thing was the lack of fatality amongst the younger population group.
“We do see this time children being affected, but there have been no fatalities which is a good thing,” she said.
Rajshekhar also said that since January 19, when Goa had witnessed 3936 new cases, the daily case count had tapered since.
“On January 19 there were 3936 positive cases reported in Goa with a positivity rate of 38.77 per cent. It has gradually come down. As of today (Tuesday) the number of cases is 910 when compared to January 19,” he said.
On February 1, out of the 4,648 samples tested, 910 persons had tested positive, bringing the infection positivity rate in the coastal state to 19.58 per cent. Six deaths were also reported on Tuesday.
“The second dose coverage is almost close to 100 per cent and beneficiaries vaccinated between the years of 15 to 18 is about 82 per cent. The maximum positivity rate which was reached is on 19th January. Now things have improved a lot,” Rajshekhar also said.
“Entire health infrastructure and manpower are monitoring the Covid situation at the micro-level. Though things are improving gradually, one must emphasise social distancing and masking. These happen to be the most important things in the entire (Covid) management (exercise),” the bureaucrat said.
According to Goa Medical College Dean Dr Shivanand Bandekar there are 112 patients admitted in the super-specialty block of the top health institute, while 68 patients are currently admitted in the main hospital.
“We have 112 admissions in the super-speciality block. Of this, 15 are in the ICU. Out of these 15, four are incubated, they are very critical. Eight are on NIV... They are all critical patients. Incubated (patients) are in serious condition,” he said.
“Then in GMC we have about 68 patients. They are basically in the antenatal ward, paediatric ward and medicine ward. These patients have medical comorbidities and they have tested Covid positive,” he also said.
The dean also said that out of the five deaths reported at the GMC on Tuesday, one person had died due to burn injuries and subsequently had tested positive for Covid.
“The deaths today are five at GMC. In these deaths, there was one burns-related case. It is incidental. Many of these deaths which we are seeing these days are incidental in nature. Patients have some other severe illness due to which death has occurred and the Covid tests in these patients have come positive. We call them incidental deaths,” he said.
“Since the Union Ministry of Health (and Family Welfare) says that if any Covid test is positive, we have to include it in the (Covid) death list. But otherwise, this death could have been due to reasons like sepsis, dehydration. There were 66 percent burns,” he said.
