<p>The Goa government plans to expand the scope of <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_blank">Covid-19</a> testing in the state by designating special teams at the primary health centres and community health centres to collect samples of suspected coronavirus patients, health minister Vishwajit Rane has said.</p>.<p>Currently, samples for Covid-19 testing are collected only at the district hospitals in Margao (South Goa) and Mapusa (North Goa), and the sub-district hospital in Ponda (North Goa).</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-over-359-lakh-have-recovered-from-covid-19-so-far-indias-tally-spikes-over-606-lakh-toll-at-17852-856206.html#1" target="_blank"><strong>For latest updates and live news on coronavirus, click here</strong></a></p>.<p>Goa reported 77 new Covid-19 cases on Sunday, taking the total count to 1,761. There have been seven deaths so far due to the disease in the coastal state.</p>.<p>"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," Rane said.</p>.<p>They will be dedicatedly working to collect samples and co-ordinate with the testing centres, the minister said in a statement issued on Sunday evening.</p>.<p>"Our aim is to move forward in a very progressive manner with teams attached to every PHC and CHC, along with an increased scope of testing, as suggested by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)," Rane said.</p>.<p>"This way, the existing staff of the PHCs and CHCs will be used only for regular activities, as it is the need of the hour," he said.</p>.<p>The state government will also streamline the supply of food at Covid care centres and it would be monitored by the health secretary from time to time, he added. </p>
<p>The Goa government plans to expand the scope of <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_blank">Covid-19</a> testing in the state by designating special teams at the primary health centres and community health centres to collect samples of suspected coronavirus patients, health minister Vishwajit Rane has said.</p>.<p>Currently, samples for Covid-19 testing are collected only at the district hospitals in Margao (South Goa) and Mapusa (North Goa), and the sub-district hospital in Ponda (North Goa).</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-over-359-lakh-have-recovered-from-covid-19-so-far-indias-tally-spikes-over-606-lakh-toll-at-17852-856206.html#1" target="_blank"><strong>For latest updates and live news on coronavirus, click here</strong></a></p>.<p>Goa reported 77 new Covid-19 cases on Sunday, taking the total count to 1,761. There have been seven deaths so far due to the disease in the coastal state.</p>.<p>"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," Rane said.</p>.<p>They will be dedicatedly working to collect samples and co-ordinate with the testing centres, the minister said in a statement issued on Sunday evening.</p>.<p>"Our aim is to move forward in a very progressive manner with teams attached to every PHC and CHC, along with an increased scope of testing, as suggested by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)," Rane said.</p>.<p>"This way, the existing staff of the PHCs and CHCs will be used only for regular activities, as it is the need of the hour," he said.</p>.<p>The state government will also streamline the supply of food at Covid care centres and it would be monitored by the health secretary from time to time, he added. </p>