With No New COVID-19 Case Since Apr 3, Goa May Become The First Indian State To Enter Green Zone

In a world where novel COVID-19 cases are on the rise, one state in the country has managed not only to restrict the number of cases but also, ensured that its citizens are given access proper tests to keep the disease in check.

While most of the states in the country are fighting to flatten the curve of the number of cases being reported in the country, Goa, on the other hand, has not reported a single case of coronavirus since April 3. Excited? What’s even more of a relief is the fact that out of the seven cases that were reported in the state, six have already recovered making Goa the first state to be on the verge of being COVID-19 free.

Taking to Twitter on April 15, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the sixth coronavirus patient in the state has recovered. He also thanked the government in his next tweet.

Given the fact that Goa welcomes millions of travellers each month from all over the world, you would be wondering how was this done. Goa was one of the first states in India to start screening passengers in its airport. Having reported its first case only on March 25, the state of Goa had already closed roadside eateries and shut down its borders on March 21 restricting any kind of tourism activity ahead of Prime Minister Modi’s announcement of the 'Janta Curfew' on March 22.

Even though no new cases have not been reported in the past two weeks, the state government is not willing to slowdown its fight against the pandemic, pretty much like a patient completing the course of medicines prescribed by the doctor. CM Sawant has already announced that the remaining time of the lockdown will be used to boost up the testing rate across the state.

As for the time when airports are allowed to function, the state government already has strict plans for that. A health certificate would be made compulsory for all the air travellers.

With all the proactive steps being taken by the government right from the time when no cases were reported, it only bodes well for the state that it is on the verge of becoming corona-free and none of this would have been possible without the support of its residents. Clearly the fight against coronavirus isn't over yet and it is good to see that the government and the citizens are coming together to ensure that there are no further casualties in this pandemic.