Goa thanks Kerala for sending liquid oxygen

TRIVANDRUM: Goa has thanked Kerala for supplying 20,000 litres of liquid oxygen amid acute shortage due to the rapid rise in the number of COVID-19 patients across the country.

Kerala is one of the few states that have excess production capacity and was already supplying medical oxygen to neighbouring Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

According to officials, the projected requirement of oxygen by April 30 in Kerala, given the current rate of increase in the number of patients, is 100 tonnes per day.

However, the state’s medical oxygen manufactures have a capacity to supply 246.1 tonnes a day.

Goa health minister Vishwajit Rane took to

Twiter to thank his Kerala counterpart KK Shailaja.

“The people of Goa are really grateful for your contribution to our fight against #COVID19,” he tweeted.

Goa, where 7,052 COVID-19 patients are under treatment, reported 409 more cases Sunday while Kerala added 13,667 more patients taking the total number to 94,009.

As the virus surge continues, the southern state hasimposedmorecurbsonthemovementofpeople and advised them to stay and work from home.

The universities and the state recruiter Public Service Commission have cancelled all their examinations ater the intervention of Governor Arif Mohammed Khan.

The opposition Congress party alleged that the government was not taking effective steps in handling the crisis ater the state elections held on April 6.

It also opened a desk to help combat the pandemic at its headquarters here under public health expert Dr SS Lal, touted as the next health minister if both of them win.

The Kerala High Court has sought a response from the state government on a petition seeking lockdown on May 2 to avoid celebrations when the votes cast will be counted.

The number of people allowed for public functions organised indoor and outdoor venues has now been limited to 75 and 150.

The state police said that people coming to Kerala from other countries and other states have to register in the Jagratha portal in view of the rising cases.

Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala called on the governor and raised concern over the spurt in the number of COVID-19 cases.

He said there was a compelling need to revisit the state’s management protocols and strategies to combat the pandemic without affecting livelihood of the people. Highlighting the acute shortage of vaccines, he urged the governor to exert pressure on the federal government to allocate enough doses on a priority basis to the state.