Goa: Hotels to have mandatory isolation rooms; new SOP to be issued soon

Tourists visiting Goa might soon find an isolation room in the hotels. Goa Health Minister has announced that they are in the process of issuing new SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) for hotels, as all restrictions have been relaxed for tourists visiting the state.

Referring to this, the Health Minister added, “We are in the process of issuing guidelines for hotels, which will make it mandatory for them to reserve one room as an isolation room on their property.” According to him, this will ensure all patients, whether with mild or critical symptoms, get oxygen on a timely basis. He further added that anyone who tests positive for Coronavirus, but is asymptotic, can be put in the isolation room in the hotel premises. While speaking to the media, the Minister also added that the coastal area will not be sealed for tourists.
The Minister mentioned that constant monitoring of patients in home isolation has helped to bring down the COVID-19 mortality rate in the state. He also added that they don’t get patients in a breathless stage any more, as they have been monitoring their health in home isolation.
Elaborating more on this, he added that anaesthesia technicians are being trained, who will be monitoring oxygen supply to patients either in the ward or remotely.
The Minister assured that no preferential treatment would be given to anyone, and that hospital beds will be available for all patients in need. Nodal officers at COVID-19 hospitals will have the final authority on discharging patients.

Reportedly, the government has notified District Hospital, GMCH, and ESI Hospital, both in Margao and the Sub-District hospital at Ponda, as COVID-19 treatment facilities