Panaji: Governor Satya Pal Malik on Thursday related the number of rising COVID-19 cases in the coastal state to “error of judgment” on the part of State government.
Malik said that Goa “got satisfied” when it was not supposed to have got satisfied on COVID-19.
Governor made the statement after attending the meeting with chief minister Pramod Sawant, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane and other officials to review the COVID-19 situation in the state ahead of three day lockdown to begin from tomorrow (Friday).
“As far as tests are concerned, Goa is doing good. Covid care management is also good,” he said.
“But, we got satisfied when we should not have got satisfied. We withdrew the lockdown that time and we are doing the lockdown (when cases have increased),” the Governor said.
He also pointed out that when people of Vasco town were appealing State government to lockdown their city, the state government did not pay attention to their demand due to which the number of cases (in that area) increased.
Governor said that the entire sequence of incidents as “error of judgment” on the part of state government.
“The lockdown should have been done when there was demand,” he said.
During the meeting today, Governor said, lot of issues were discussed.
“I praised government wherever they have done a good job, and also pointed out the discrepancies in covid management,” he said.
Responding to the statement by the chief minister that Governor blamed media for wrong information on the COVID-19 outbreak during the meeting, Governor clarified that he never blamed media.
“It is wrong to say that I blamed media. There was no issue about media. I have never criticized press. Press is our strength which give us feedback. CM should not have said that. I never said that,” he commented.
Governor said that he has asked the state government to address issues like quality of food and hygience at covidcare centres. He said that it was also decided to have one covidcare centre in each taluka.
Referring to the deaths due to COVID-19, Governor said that the logic is being given that the fatalities are due to co-morbid condition of the patient.
“There was a logic which was given that there are fatalities due to co morbid conditions. I told them that you should treat the patients with co morbid conditions. You are only treating corona, what will happen to the rest of the ailments that they are facing. There should be total treatment of co morbidity and also corona,” he added.
