Rupesh Samant

Daijiworld Media Network- Panaji

Panaji, Nov 24: Prime minister Narendra Modi during his video interaction with the various chief ministers on Tuesday asked the states to work out modalities for the administration of anti-COVID-19 vaccination in their respective states.

Goa chief minister, Pramod Sawant, who participated in the video conferencing along with counterparts from other states, said that the PM has asked the states to work out logistics and modalities for the administration of the vaccine.

He said that there is no date fixed about the arrival of the vaccine for COVID-19, but the states have been asked to be prepared as “it can happen anytime after January.”

Sawant said that the states will have to put in place the required cold chain system to store the vaccine before it is administered to the masses. The CM said that Health Workers and those working as COVID-19 warriors will get the vaccine first followed by people who are above 65 year and then those who are suffering from co-morbidity before giving it to the rest of the masses.

The PM guided the state chief ministers about the distribution of the vaccine. He said that it is not clear whether the vaccines would be paid or free of cost.

Sawant said that though the number of COVID-19 positive cases are decreasing in the state, there is no need to be lenient. He said that measures like wearing masks, social distancing and sanitization have to be continued.

When asked about the oncoming tourist season, Sawant said that the state will not make COVID-19 negative certificate compulsory for the visitors, but will introduce thermal guns at various important points.

He said that the hotels have also been asked to install thermal guns on their premises to check the tourist when he arrives.