Panaji: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday said the government can prevent the spread of COVID-19 without imposing a lockdown if the police discharge their duties effectively to implement the COVID protocols and the people follow the COVID-19 norms.
Sawant held a meeting with senior officials of Goa Police regarding the enforcement of COVID-19 norms in the state. The meet was held through videoconferencing from his official residence at Altinho, Panaji.
Interacting with the police force, the Chief Minister directed the cops to ensure that the COVID norms are strictly enforced and implemented in the state to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus. He also directed the police to initiate stern action against those violating the guidelines issued and restrictions imposed under Section 144.
“Imposition of a lockdown badly affects the economic activity and this is evident from the lockdown that was imposed during last year. We can prevent the spread of coronavirus without imposing a lockdown if the police discharge their duties effectively to implement the COVID-19 protocol and the people follow the COVID-19 norms,” he said.
The Chief Minister said taking into account the rapid surge in the COVID-19 cases, festivals, fairs, religious rituals, church feasts should be performed with few people and offering of prayers in mosques and other places of worship should be done from homes.
“Only mahajans will perform rituals in temples. The number of persons attending weddings has been also restricted to 50. Those violating these restrictions should be charged a double fine,” he said. Sawant said fines are imposed not to generate revenue but to bring in discipline among the general public and to see that the COVID protocols are strictly followed.
Highlighting the need to create greater awareness among the general public about the dreaded virus, the Chief Minister said awareness through the public address system will have a greater impact as done by the police force in the past.
Sawant also urged the police force to help those who test positive for COVID-19, particularly the needy. The Chief Minister said 50 per cent of the people of the state have got themselves tested for COVID-19 so far and police need to be proactive in asking people not to step out of their houses in view of the current situation. “The police should also appeal to the citizens to come forward and get vaccinated,” he said.
Appreciating the efforts of the police in supplementing the government’s endeavours to deal with the COVID crisis, Sawant hoped that police will extend their cooperation to the government till the COVID cases subside.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Parimal Rai, Director General of Police Mukesh Kumar Meena and Deputy Inspector General of Police Parmaditya.
Later in the evening, the Chief Minister held a virtual meeting with revenue officials including the Deputy Collectors and mamlatdars on COVID-19 management to ensure stricter enforcement of the norms.
The Chief Minister told the media after the meeting that he has directed the Deputy Collectors to identify places where there is more spread of the infection and declare them as containment zones. He reiterated that the state will not go in for a lockdown for now.
Revenue Minister Jennifer Monserrate and Secretary (Revenue) Sanjay Kumar also attended the meeting.
The Chief Minister also took a review from the state executive committee on the prevailing situation in the state.
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