PANAJI: On Wednesday, Goa reported 1,487 fresh Covid-19 cases and 1,363 recoveries. While the case positivity rate continued to be high at 32%, the recovery rate further rose to 88%. With 39 fatalities, the morality count touched 2,500. Over the last one week, daily hospital admissions have fallen below 200, but hospitals continue to have patients coming in late, in critical condition, and dying within a few hours. Some are brought dead. On Wednesday, a 75-year-old woman from Quepem, who had multiple comorbidities, including chronic kidney disease, and an 85-year-old woman from Cacora were declared brought dead. Eight patients died within 24 hours of admission with the youngest among them a 30-year-old man from Mapusa. Most of them were in home isolation until shifted to the hospital. The 30-year-old man had no comorbidities. Among the dead, nine were under the age of 45 and a few had comorbidities. On Wednesday, the directorate of health services kick-started the 10-day Tika Utsav at various panchayats and municipal areas for the 45-plus age group, which has so far not shown much enthusiasm to get vaccinated. The day saw 6,402 people getting their first shot and 34 fully vaccinated. On Wednesday, the Tika Utsav was held at 34 villages. The government is expecting the drive to help raise the numbers as during the last few days the daily average of vaccination has reduced to 3,000-3,500 doses a day. While the 18-44 age group is most enthusiastic about getting immunised, the health services has been compelled to conduct vaccination for this group in a staggered manner for want of vaccine doses. Health minister Vishwajit Rane appreciated the efforts of the Candolim primary health centre in vaccinating a 93-year-old beneficiary in a car. “Such out-of-the-box solutions will help us vaccinate elderly beneficiaries successfully,” Rane said in his social media post. A health officer said people still believe in misinformation about the vaccine and shy away from getting the shot.
Goa: 39 deaths on Wednesday, case positivity still high at 32%
