Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Jul 6: State health minister Vishwajit Rane said that a special team would be formed to collect samples of suspected coronavirus patients. The state intends to expand the scope of COVID-19 testing. The special team would be designated at the primary health centres and community health centres.

As of now testing is conducted only at the district hospitals in Margao (South Goa) and Mapusa (North Goa), and the sub-district hospital in Ponda (North Goa).

The state has witnessed 1,761 cases after 77 new cases were reported on Sunday. Seven have yielded to the disease in the coastal state.

The health minister said, "After deliberations with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, we have taken a decision to recruit new teams on a contractual basis to designate them at the primary health centres (PHCs) and community health centres (CHCs), and they will report to the respective health officers."

He elaborated the team's role to collect samples and coordinate with the testing centres, Rane said in a statement issued on Sunday, July 5.

The decision aimed at increasing the scope of testing in the state as cases continue to rise, Rane said.