PANAJI: The state government is likely to extend the curbs imposed to control the spread of Covid-19 infections at least by a week. The current restrictions will end on May 31.
“Any news that the extension of curfew has been decided is fake,” chief minister Pramod Sawant said. “We may take a decision on it tomorrow (Saturday). There is a likelihood of extension of the curfew. But right now, no decision in this regard has been taken, and any news of extension is fake.”
The state BJP has also called for extending the curbs at least by a week. “We’ve told the chief minister that considering the present Covid situation in the state, it is better to extend the restrictions at least by a week”, state BJP president Sadanand Shet Tanavade told TOI.
Sources said that the chief minister on Friday consulted some of his ministerial colleagues and senior bureaucrats over the extension of the curbs.
When the Covid situation went out of hand, the state government announced a 15-day curfew on May 9, and on May 23, it was extended till the end of the month as cases were still high. In March-April, the government had dismissed demands for a partial lockdown even as experts warned of the second wave.
The suspicion that a decision on extension of the curfew had already been taken by the Goa government was raised after Delta Corp wrote to the National Stock Exchange on Thursday indicating the same.
“Please note that due to a surge in Covid-19 cases being witnessed in Goa, the government of Goa inter-alia has extended the lockdown in the state till June 15, 2021,” Delta Corp’s GM Dilip Vaidya wrote to stock exchanges.
“Accordingly, the casinos operated by the company and its subsidiaries in Goa will remain closed during this period. We are unable to estimate the quantum of potential losses on account of this temporary closure and the pandemic at this time.”
Intriguingly, the very next day on May 28, Delta Corp wrote to NSE stating that it had erroneously stated that the decision by the Goa government was already made (to extend the state curfew).
“Further to our disclosure dated May 27, 2021, please note that the same was issued due to some confusion and error and accordingly stands withdrawn,” Vaidya said. “The lockdown in Goa continues till May 31, 2021, and we await further instructions and directions from the government of Goa…”
Meanwhile, the Union ministry of home affairs has written to states, including Goa, reminding them that the number of active cases are still high at present, and that states should not be seen slacking in imposing curbs to control the pandemic.
