Even when Vishwajit Rane, who has the health portfolio, said that he spoke to Sawant about imposing a night curfew on the Delhi and Karnataka line, Sawant maintained that the government had not declared such action.
CM’s solution was to “request” tourists, hoteliers, and party planners to follow the rules to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Sawant’s inaction comes even as tourists have crowded the state for year-end celebrations and are seen cramming beaches and other popular spots without masks and social distancing. The collapse of all regulations has worried locals and doctors, who fear it will be only a matter of time before the public health system will again be overwhelmed.
“One look around and you realize that the government is not serious about controlling Covid,” wrote well-known orthopedic surgeon Dr. Sambprassad Nadkarni, in a widely shared post on social media. “If there is an increase in cases, healthcare workers will have to bear the brunt and pay a heavy price for the failure of the government and the public,” he said.
‘Wear masks, avoid public gatherings’
A similar sentiment prevails in public health circles. “People move without masks. Tourist spots are crowded. I would wait until the second week of January to see if there are any ripple effects, ”said a government health official on condition of anonymity.
On Wednesday, the Center had instructed Union states and territories to maintain strict vigilance to curb super-spreader events and places where crowds can gather to celebrate the New Year.
It was this directive that led Rane to speak to Sawant about a possible curfew. “As Goa is a tourist state, it is imperative to have strict standard operating procedures in place so that we can maintain tourist activities in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines,” the health minister said.
Tourists enjoying the last sunset of 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic on New Years Eve at Calangute Beach in North Goa on Thursday. (Photo: Rajtilak Naik)
The Center also recommended that states and UT impose restrictions, including night curfew, after assessing the situation in their respective jurisdictions.
On December 27, TOI posted a photo of a huge swarm of tourists on Baga beach, the day after Christmas. However, even after overwhelming evidence of possible super spreader events, Sawant’s “assessment” of the situation (as advised by the Center) did not require any additional restrictions, resulting in a free-for-all event. on New Years Eve.
Late at night, Rane tweeted again after Sawant rejected his call for stricter measures and asked the public to voluntarily follow standard operating procedures and behave as responsible citizens.
“Our doctors are working very hard (and) saving people’s lives in the time of Covid-19,” he said. “We all know that there is a new strain of the coronavirus, and our doctors are not only risking their lives, but also those of their families, to save all the citizens of our state.”
He also asked the public to respect doctors and healthcare workers. “The only way to do this is by following strict standard operating procedures, wearing masks at all times, maintaining social distancing and avoiding public gatherings.”
Despite calls on social media and elsewhere that things would go haywire without strict enforcement, Sawant was confident in his stance that there is no need for additional measures, preferring to justify it with “even mass in churches and zatras are celebrated with social distancing. ”
Even though Goa’s Covid numbers are steadily decreasing, the new mutant strain of the virus, which was reported to be even more contagious, already has the Center and states scrambling to contain it.
On Thursday, the Telangana high court said the new strain spreads like wildfire and called on the state government to impose Section 144 and a night curfew to combat it.
“An infected person in a party hall with 200 people can infect all prisoners at once,” warned the bank, led by the Chief Justice. “No party. Nothing. Only Section 144. Why can’t the state do this?” Asked the court.
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