Panaji: Stepping up the measures to ensure that there is no coronavirus outbreak in Goa, State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Monday said that isolation wards will also be created in private hospitals.
Rane chaired the meeting of high ranking health department officials on Monday to review the measures.
“Firstly, we are making the use of Sterilium mandatory at all the entry and exit points in hospitals,” Rane told reporters.
“Directorate of Health Services (DHS) will be identifying additional isolation wards and beds in private hospitals and further work out a protocol for transferring patients to Goa Medical college and hospital,” he said.
“Besides, Primary Health Centres to have separate Flu corners and segregate OPDs for common cold and cough,” the minister said.
Rane said that in a major step to contain the spread of coronavirus (COVID 19) we invoked the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 on Friday which gives us certain powers to bring about measures for better prevention.
Rane said that the Directorate of Health Services has been directed to acquire the travel history of suspected Coronavirus patients.
“Also, any traveler arriving into the state from a Coronavirus infected country, to be quarantined on immediate basis. Our utmost priority is the safety and security of our doctors and staff and we are ensuring the same in the process,” he said.
Meanwhile, Goa health authorities on Monday said that they are still waiting for the test results on the patient who was admitted in isolation ward of state run facility.
Goa medical college and hospital has admitted 48-year-old woman from Kerala in its isolation facility, state health department official said adding that 92 people are kept under home isolation.
Total15241 passengers were screened at Goa airport including 366 who were screened on March 16.
The official said that state has sent total 20 samples for testing at Pune based labouratory of which 19 have tested negative, while the result of one is awaited.
