PANAJI:
The Goa government may considering delaying reopening of places of worship in the state in view of a spike in coronavirus cases in South Goa”s Mangor Hill, designated as a ”containment zone” after 40 positive cases were reported there.
Speaking to reporters, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the state had also not taken a decision on reopening of educational institutions for the new academic session. Asked if the state would allow reopening of religious places to the devotees, he said: “Currently, it is a local transmission, but if the transmission spills outside the Mangor hill area, the government will take a decision keeping this factor into account.”
Goa on Wednesday reported a record 40 new coronavirus cases after 200 persons were tested in the Mangor hill area, the state”s first containment zone now. Testing in the area is being carried out at warfooting, even as access to Mangor hill, which houses around 2,000 persons, has been cut off by the authorities.
Asked about the likely date for reopening of schools, which conventionally open in the first week of June, Sawant said: “No decision has been taken yet”. The state currently has 62 active cases now.
