Panaji: With the mortality rate due to COVID-19 infection touching double figure on Monday, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday held meeting with the high ranking Health and Revenue Department officials asking them to hit the ground.
Sawant said that the state is tasked with the goal of having zero mortality in the days to come by making people to admit the symptomatic patients on time so that they can be treated of COVID-19 infection.
State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane was also present for the meeting which was held via video-conferencing by the Chief Minister.
Goa reported 14 deaths on Monday, including two persons who were brought in dead in the state run hospitals after succumbing to the COVID-19 infection.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Sawant said that it is a joint responsibility of public and the government to ensure that no one dies due to lack of treatment of COVID-19.
He said that there are enough beds available in the state run Covid care centres and hospitals for those who have tested positive for the infection. The Chief Minister appealed the families “not to keep people symptoms back home, and instead refer them to the treatment, so that their lives can be saved.”
Sawant said that the awareness should be created amongst the people of not to ignore the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 infection.
The chief minister said that the Health department and Revenue department officials have been asked to provide support at grass root level.
He rubbished the allegations that there was shortage of beds at State run Goa Medical College and Hospital due to which the patients are made to sleep on the floor.
Sawant admitted that there was a shortage of beds, only for a day, when suddenly there was a spike in the number of patients. “But we immediately ensured that beds are provided and patients are shifted to other facilities,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said that the State government will not reopen the schools without taking Headmasters, Parent-Teachers-Association and management into confidence. He said that he would be holding online consultation with them in next three days.
