PANAJI: In the wake of 19 infections of Covid’s Omicron sub-variant, JN.1, detected in Goa, health minister Viswajit Rane on Wednesday said there was no need to panic. “It is better to get any cold checked with a doctor. An antigen test can be done just as a precaution,” he said.
“All 19 patients reported mild symptoms and were in home isolation. All were cured and nobody was hospitalised or put on oxygen,” the minister further said.
Goa reported zero Covid-19 cases on Wednesday. Only 15 samples were tested due to the public holiday on Liberation Day, which was observed a day earlier. The state has reported 34 cases this month, the highest in many months. There are currently 19 active cases.
Rane and health officials from across the state participated in the Union health minister’s live meeting with all states to review preparedness in the wake of rising Covid-19 cases and the JN.1 variant, which has been classified by the World Health Organisation as a ‘variant of interest’. Rane then held a meeting with heads of departments of the GMC, the directorate of health services and other officials.
The state has already conducted mock drills and details pertaining to the number of beds, ventilators, facilities, testing kits, masks, medication etc. available in private and government health facilities have been submitted to the Union health ministry.
Rane said flu clinics will be restarted in health centres and added that it would be better for the Centre to issue guidelines rather than each state issuing its own with regard to the rising infections.
Directions have gone out to all health centres to increase surveillance by not taking flu cases lightly or simply sending patients home without a thorough investigation of their condition.
Genome sequencing of all Covid-positive cases is carried out at the North Goa district hospital laboratory. Results are received in around 10 days. Health authorities said there have not been any admissions of Covid-19 cases and no deaths.
“All 19 patients reported mild symptoms and were in home isolation. All were cured and nobody was hospitalised or put on oxygen,” the minister further said.
Goa reported zero Covid-19 cases on Wednesday. Only 15 samples were tested due to the public holiday on Liberation Day, which was observed a day earlier. The state has reported 34 cases this month, the highest in many months. There are currently 19 active cases.
Rane and health officials from across the state participated in the Union health minister’s live meeting with all states to review preparedness in the wake of rising Covid-19 cases and the JN.1 variant, which has been classified by the World Health Organisation as a ‘variant of interest’. Rane then held a meeting with heads of departments of the GMC, the directorate of health services and other officials.
The state has already conducted mock drills and details pertaining to the number of beds, ventilators, facilities, testing kits, masks, medication etc. available in private and government health facilities have been submitted to the Union health ministry.
Rane said flu clinics will be restarted in health centres and added that it would be better for the Centre to issue guidelines rather than each state issuing its own with regard to the rising infections.
Directions have gone out to all health centres to increase surveillance by not taking flu cases lightly or simply sending patients home without a thorough investigation of their condition.
Genome sequencing of all Covid-positive cases is carried out at the North Goa district hospital laboratory. Results are received in around 10 days. Health authorities said there have not been any admissions of Covid-19 cases and no deaths.