An 85-year-old man from north Goa’s Morlem, who had been bedridden for four years, died on Monday at ESI Hospital, becoming the first COVID-19 death within the State. The State’s daily health bulletin has classified it because of the “death of an individual with co-morbid conditions”.Chief Minister Pramod Sawant reportedly said, “The patient was asthmatic and was affected by a couple of other ailments, including diabetes and pulmonary disease, and was bedridden for four years.”
The patient was tested after his kins were tested positive for the virus, and he was shifted to the COVID-19 ward at the Goa Medical College Sunday night before being shifted to ESI Hospital — the State’s designated COVID-19 hospital. Consistent with Directorate of Health Services (DHC) officials, he succumbed to his infection around 6 am Monday.
The DHS will now be conducting the ultimate rites consistent with the SOP in place.
Late on Monday, officials declared that a 58-year-old man admitted to ESI hospital died, making it two that within the State.
Of the 85-year-old from Morlem, State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said, “This man was from my constituency. My condolences to the family. This was unfortunate.”
Morlem panchayat, which falls under the Valpoi Assembly constituency, was earlier this month declared a containment zone.
Goa to date has recorded 864 COVID-19 cases, with 711 cases still active. Of them, 83 people had returned to the State from other parts of India and abroad.
As of Monday, 1,188 persons were in quarantine.
The government has, to date, changed its discharge policy thrice, with only those who are symptomatic now being tested while being discharged.
With Internet connectivity posing a drag in Goa, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant Monday said his government was looking to ascertain if Doordarshan or private channels can broadcast academic content to the students in the State. “Connectivity may be a problem….we are watching ways to air the tutorial content to all or any corners,” Sawant said at a news conference.

“There is not any such order or circular which says online education is compulsory. Schools need to accompany other ways and that they cannot enforce teaching the whole syllabus online.” CM also announced that all students of Classes 9 and 12 are going to be promoted. “It’s feasible that way rather than going for exams again within the pandemic,” he said.

While a choice to open schools is going to be taken on July 15, Sawant said, “Teachers need to come to colleges from tomorrow and begin preparations. Around 11,000 teachers are trained for online tutorials.” He added that when schools begin, they're going to reduce and even curtail Diwali and Christmas leaves so as to make sure that they're ready to complete the syllabus. “The onus to finish the syllabus is on teachers,” he said.