THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO: Even as Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat called for a meeting of Opposition MLAs to discuss the Covid situation in the state, Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai has called for deployment of financial resources from the Liberation fund to save Goa and its people from the deadly pandemic.
Congress veteran and Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro also told the Chief Minister to tone up the health infrastructure on a war footing, saying it is imperative that the state government set up extra bed facilities with oxygen supply, and ventilators so that not a single life is lost due to paucity of health infrastructure.
The meeting called by the Opposition leader will take place in his chamber in the Assembly complex at 4 pm on Tuesday.
Digambar has asked citizens to WhatsApp their valuable suggestions to overcome this critical Covid situation by 10 am tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Sardesai has urged the government to immediately adopt the recommendations of the health authorities and the opposition members saying, “don’t consider this as GFP strategy or BJP strategy, but as Goa’s strategy.”
Sardesai pointed out that Goa requires direct and urgent intervention to mitigate the rapid spread and said, “Goa has the highest positivity rate in the country today and the worst is yet to come. We have already lost 1,320 people.”
He added, “The current load of 25,839 active cases along with Goa’s Mortality Rate and Positivity Rate are far too high for its small population, and is extremely alarming.
“We cannot allow this to continue. This callous response is more than just a national embarrassment; these are people’s lives Goa is losing everyday,” Sardesai said.
Sardesai said Goa must look at a 4-pronged strategy that employs lockdown, vaccines, transparency, and management to solve the Covid crisis and added that a 15-day lockdown would be helpful to stop the spread and provide the necessary breathing space for Goa’s medical staff to battle this health crisis.
He pointed out that Goa needs to seal its borders and make it mandatory for visitors to enter only if it is absolutely necessary, and that too with a negative Covid certificate.
“Travellers from other states are flocking to Goa assuming the situation is better because of the government’s carefree attitude, making matters worse and imposing more strain on our frontline medical and other workers,” he pointed out.
