Rupesh Samant

Povorim, Apr 10: Independent MLA Rohan Khaunte on Saturday wrote to the chief minister stating that the tourism and casinos are likely to create a 'domino effect' for the COVID-19 spread.

Khaunte, a former state revenue minister appealed to chief minister Pramod Sawant to have a strategic change to prevent further sufferings and deaths due to the COVID-19 infection.

“The government’s priority to the economy is taking its toll on public health and welfare as the second covid wave is already hitting Goa. Thus a strategy change is required and much needs to be done on a war footing to prevent further suffering and deaths from the pandemic’s second wave,” Khaunte wrote to the CM.

He pointed out that neighbouring states of Maharashtra and Karnataka have imposed stringent measures and night curfews and it is time for the Goa government to act similarly along with making COVID negative certification mandatory for entering Goa.

Referring to the rush on off-shore casinos located in Panaji city, Khaunte wrote “Tourism and Casino have been the welcome units of this novel virus into our state, likely to create a domino effect of the spread.”

Khaunte said that the Goa stands at the “shore of this second COVID wave, which will be fiercer and stronger than before. Therefore, we need to embrace ourselves for the attack by this double mutant variant.”

The MLA said that public health centres which are COVID testing facilities double up as vaccination centre’s thus heightening the crowd exposure. “It would be wiser to location-wise diversify the two activities,” he suggested.

Khaunte also said that the state government can explore the possibility of creating separate special units for carrying out vaccination drives to the homes of those above the age of 75 years, which will ensure extended reach of immunity boosting.