log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday TUESDAY JUNE 23, 2020 Coping with online schooling IN SHORT >> Govt mulls dropping Chinese firm from Zuari bridge project PANAJI: The state government is contemplating dropping the Chinese consultancy firm Shanghai Tonggang Bridge Technology from the Rs 1,403 crore worth Zuari bridge project. The decision is likely to be taken in view of the recent military standoff between India and China, Public Works Department Minister Deepak Pauskar said. IFFI 2020 poster launched virtually PANAJI: Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar inaugurated the India Pavilion at the Cannes Film Market 2020 virtually. He also launched the poster and information booklet for the 51st International Film Festival of India (IFFI), slated to be held in Goa from November 20 this year. Cops to act against habitual offenders OLD GOA: Having been caught off guard in the gang war in the wee hours of Saturday at Ubo Dando in Santa Cruz, leading to the death of Sonu Yadav (25) by a gunshot, Goa police have now decided to take preventive action against habitual offenders and budding criminals in the State. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by the IGP, in which it has been decided to contemplate preventive action against habitual offenders and budding criminals.   >> See pg 3 Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday 8 pages The Goan (Playstore) PRICE ` 6 VOLUME VI, NO. 6 2 GOA 6 All eyes on crucial SGPDA meeting today THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Goa lost its “zero mortality” tag with the demise of two Covid-19 patients at the Covid Hospital in Margao. First death due to Covid-19 in Goa was registered on Monday morning. The deceased, an 85 year-old man from Morlem with a history of asthma, was brought to Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim on Sunday in critical condition. He was immediately shifted to Covid Hospital, Margao. However, the patient succumbed to the infection on Monday morning. Late on Monday night, a second Covid-19 related death was recorded. A 58-year-old man from Vasco, who had underlying heart conditions, succumbed to the coronavirus infection while undergoing treatment at the Covid Hospital. Authorities have yet to formally declare the passing away of this person. Speaking about the first Cov- Ex-Health Minister tests +ve for Covid PANAJI: Former Health Minister and former Sakhali MLA Suresh Amonkar has tested positive for Covid-19, sources revealed. Amonkar, who has been suffering from a kidney-related ailment, was shifted to Covid Hospital late on Monday night. Another elderly patient critical PANAJI: Authorities have hinted that yet another elderly female patient is in a critical state at the Covid Hospital. Confirming this CM Sawant said that she is on the ventilator. He, however, said that she is presently stable. Sawant has urged people to take extra precautions if there are any persons with comorbid conditions in their homes. id-19 casualty, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said, “He was an 85 year-old resident of Morlem with asthma and several other health conditions. He was bed-ridden for the last four years and was from Ghodemol containment zone area. He was a suspected Covid-19 patient as his family members had tested positive.” Sawant said that the State government will ensure that the last rites on the patient’s mortal remains are performed in a dignified manner. “Funeral protocol for Covid-19 deaths will be followed and the government will perform final rites. Precautions will be taken to wrap the deceased in plastic and that Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) suits are worn by the medical personnel while lifting the body. The last rites will be performed at a general crematorium,” Sawant said. Confirming the murmurs SC AGREES TO RATH YATRA TIDES Low: High: 05:41 18:37 12:53 23:35 NEW DELHI Cipla, an Indian multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, has launched its own 100 mg antiviral drug named Cipremi for treating severe Covid-19 patients. ‘Cipremi’, a drug for Covid-19 infection, has been approved for adult and paediartric patients who have been hospitalised. The newly launched drug will be more effective for those who are on oxygen support after falling ill to coronavirus. Cipla has been granted regulatory approval by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for restricted emergen- about yet another elderly female patient is in a critical state at the Covid Hospital, CM Sawant said that she is on the ventilator. He, however, said that she is presently stable. Pointing to the death of the senior citizen from Ghodemol, Sawant has urged people to take extra precautions if there are any persons with comorbid conditions in their homes. The CM further said that active surveillance is being undertaken through health officers especially in slum areas to prevent spread of the coronavirus. “In Mangor Hill, all persons with comorbid conditions have been tested by now,” he said.  Meanwhile, CM Sawant revealed that three doctors and one medical intern have tested positive for Covid-19 in the past. “There are chances when they are frontline warriors,” he stated.  The State government has also notified Sai Hostel, Mapusa and Daivadnya Samaj Community Welfare Centre as Covid Care Centers. THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI: The number of Covid positive cases continued to rise with 46 more being reported in the State on Monday. The total number of Covid-19 cases in Goa stands at 864 with the addition of 46 new cases. Of these, 711 are active cases. While 12 new cases were reported from Mangor Hill, six more people have tested positive in Margao, four from Curtorim and two more from Ambelim. Covid +ve woman gives birth to girl Priests and policemen pull the three chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balarama, and Subhadra from the construction site (Ratha Khala) to Jagannatha Temple for the annual Rath Yatra, scheduled to start from Tuesday in Puri. New MV Act to take effect from Oct THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI: The State government has yet again decided to postpone to October the implementation of controversial Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 which prescribes heavy fines for traffic violations and stricter rules. The new Act which was notified by the central government way back September 2019 is still not getting perfect “Muhurtam” to be notified and implemented in Goa with a high density of Now, Cipla launches drug to treat Covid infection PTI RIL becomes first Indian firm to hit market valuation of $150 bn 46 NEW COVID +VE CASES REPORTED Nepal blocks India’s dam repair work Max: 30.2 C Min: 25.8C Humidity: 92% NEWS 85-YR-OLD MORLEM MAN & 58-YR-OLD MAN FROM VASCO SUCCUMB NEW DELHI: Indian and Chinese militaries are holding a second round of Lt General-level talks on Monday in an attempt to lower the temperature following the violent clashes in Galwan Valley last week that left 20 Indian Army personnel dead, official sources said. The talks were scheduled to start at 11:30 am at Moldo on the Chinese side of Chushul sector in eastern Ladakh, they said. >> See pg 7 WEATHER >> RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 7 8 SPORTS Dravid never got enough credit for captaincy: Gambhir 2 COVID DEATHS CAST SHADOW ON GOA India, China hold Lt General-level talks NEW DELHI: In an apparent provocative move, Nepal has stopped all repair work of river embankments in Bihar on the India-Nepal border, by erecting barriers and effectively putting a stop to work done by India to prevent flooding of its low-lying areas, the Bihar government has alleged.  >> See pg 7 Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday SHOT IN THE ARM „„Cipremi to be available as remdesivir lyophilised powder for injection 100 mg „„It will be available through government and open market channels „„Pricing of the drug has still not been disclosed „„It will be available for restricted emergency use cy use in the country as part of the accelerated approval process considering the urgent and unmet medical need. “As part of a risk management plan, Cipla will pro- vide training on the use of the drug, informed patient consent documents, conduct post-marketing surveillance as well as conduct a Phase IV clinical trial on Indian patients”, informed the company through a statement. Commenting on the launch, Umang Vohra (MD and Global CEO, Cipla Limited) said, “Cipla appreciates the strong partnership with Gilead to bring remdesivir to patients in India. We have been deeply invested in exploring all possible avenues to save millions of lives impacted by Covid-19 pandemic, and this launch is a significant milestone in that direction. We will continue to >Continued on P5 motor vehicles. “We will not implement a new Motor Vehicle Act. Hoping that there will be a respite from Covid we will probably implement it in October”, said Transport Minister Mauvin >Continued on P5 MARGAO: While the state’s lone Covid hospital registered a first death early Monday morning, the hospital recorded the birth of a child later in the evening after a Covid infected woman from Mangor Hill gave birth to a baby girl. >> See pg 2 ON PAGE 3 Courts in Spaces building in Patto shut after one staffer and husband test positive Locals want testing expedited in Bada Mangor BLOs told to keep vigil on ILI cases in Indira Nagar Decks cleared for final rites; daughter gives ‘clearance’ THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO The stage is set for the cremation of the State’s first Covid patient as the Valpoi police have given its No Objective Certificate for the disposal of the 85-year resident of Morlem-Sattari. Covid Coordinator, Dr ira Almedia said health authorities will invoke the SOP on disposal of bodies of Covid positive patients. “Our health workers who will be accompanying the body will be wearing Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) till the time of the cremation. The personnel conducting the cremation are also guided by rules relating to disposal of bodies”, Dr Ira said. The body of the 85-year old patient is presently stored at the mortuary of the ESI hospital, Margao which is now notified as the state’s lone hospital. DAUGHTER OF DECEASED ALSO TESTS POSITIVE >> See pg 3 Soon after the demise of the 85-year old man, the health authorities are believed to have informed the relatives of the deceased. Since his close relatives are presently housed at the Covid care centre, Shiroda, the daughter of the deceased gave an undertaking that the family does not want to claim the body. It was only after the daughter gave a written undertaking that the fami- ly does not want claim the body, the role of the police came in the picture over the disposal. “The body of the deceased has been wrapped in a plastic material as per the SOP in place before it was taken and stored in the mortuary. The material used to wrap the body will not be removed at the time of the cremation’, she added. By noon, Valpoi Police station in-charge, PI S M Vaingankar issued a certificate to whom so ever it may concern that there is no objection from the Valpoi police station to dispose the dead body of the resident of Morlem-Sattari as the same is not required in any crime/ UD or any MLC cases registered at the Valpoi police station. Teachers must report to work from Wed: Sawant Says decision on schools after July 15 THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Still uncertain of what concrete shape formal instruction in schools will take in the evolving Covid-19 situation, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said all teachers will have to report to work from June 24 while a decision on re-opening schoools will be taken only after mid-July. Sawant, who held deliberations with the education ministry officials, heads of schools and some PTAs, said 11,000 teachers who were trained in online teaching are currently keeping students engaged. However, online teaching will not be resorted to exclusively due to connectivity issues and students who have missed out on the academic work currently being done will be taught the syllabus afresh when schools actually begin. Vacations during the year for Chathurti, Diwali and Christmas will be curtailed to help cover the syllabus, he added. “Parents should not panic that their wards will miss syllabus. Nor should they take loans and buy gadgets. Entire syllabus will be taught again THE YEAR AHEAD „„Teachers have to teach full syllabus to those students who miss online-offline classes for having no mobile or connectivity „„Vacations during the year for Chathurti, Diwali and Christmas will be curtailed to help cover the syllabus „„Std IX-XI students to be promoted, no supplementary exams „„Govt looking at options including Doordarshan, private channels to broadcast classes to all students who miss these online classes,” Sawant said. The chief minister, who holds the education portfolio, also said all teachers will have to report to work from June 24. He also said students of Std IX and XI will be promoted and no supplementary exams will be conduted. Education department officials, however, said although it expects teachers to work, several practical difficulties were impeding the issuance of a formal circular and has left the issue at the discretion of managements of the schools they are attached. The officials said, several schools have been taken over by the Disaster Management Committee and many others are situated in containment zones. Also some teachers may also be residing in the containment zones which has influenced the education department to refrain from issuing any specific circular requiring teachers to physically report to work at schools, the officials said. Meanwhile Sawant said, the government is looking at options including Doordarshan and other private channels broadcasting classes to reach out to areas that face internet connectivity problems. Centre’s new protocol on travel leaves dozens of UK family permit holders stranded in Goa GERARD LOBO LONDON hile efforts are underway to get back thousands of Goans stranded all over the world, a peculiar situation awaits dozens of Indian nationals with family permits in the UK who have been stranded in Goa. These family permit holders with Indian passports are virtually unable to leave the country on account of modified Standard Operating Protocols (SOP) by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on June 1. In its modified SOP on movement of Indian nationals to travel abroad, the MHA said “only those persons shall be allowed to travel to the destination countries, who are W MHA’S MODIFIED SOP „„Only those persons shall be allowed to travel to the destination countries, who are citizens of that country, who have a green card or OCI card, Indian nationals who hold a visa of that country, with a minimum residual validity of three months SYSTEM IN UK „„A family permit, which is not a general or any other visa, allows the permit citizens of that country, who have a green card or OCI card, Indian nationals who hold holder to join the family in the UK „„Unlike a general visa, the family permit has no end date like any other visa category CATCH-22 SITUATION a visa of that country, with a minimum residual validity of three months.” This new MHA SOP has caused confusion among dozens of people in Goa, „„Air India refuses to book flight tickets for family permit holders if their visa shows less than 3 months of residual validity especially those with family permits in the UK, as they are unsure if they are allowed to travel abroad or if they will be stopped by immigration officials in India. According to UK’s system, a family permit, which is not a general or any other visa, allows the permit holder to join the family in the UK. Unlike a general visa, the family permit has no end date like any other visa category. According to some family permit holders, the SOP on June 1 was an amendment of the earlier memorandum in May for the Vande Bharat Mission flights, which originally required 1-year minimum residual visa for dependents >Continued on P5