Panaji: Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Friday expressed worries after the inflow of people entering the state has increased, straining the COVID-19 testing facilities.
Several people were seen outside state run district hospital in Mapusa on Thursday evening to get themselves tested after entering the state, as the infrastructure required for their testing was exhausted.
“There was a little issue at the hospital because the number of anticipated people were much more. We cannot go on increasing the machines ( to test coronavirus). We have specific limitations,” Rane told reporters in Panaji before meeting Chief Minister Pramod Sawant over the issue.
“Something needs to be done in capping the people who will enter the state. I am sure CM will take overall view,” he said.
Goa has changed its Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) making it mandatory for the people to either carry COVID-19 negative certificate or get themselves tested once they arrive in the State.
When asked about Chief Minister’s suggestion of increasing the lockdown by another 15 days, Rane said that during the lockdown, strict protocols needs to be put in place.
“Ultimately, we don’t want community transmission to happen. I am not worried about today, but about future. Till today, we have kept Goa safe under the guidance of the chief minister,” he said.
“Some strict measures are required. My worry is about the inflow of people coming to Goa, but at the same time we want to resume our economic activities,” he added.
