UK: Good and Sad News – Coronavirus number 19 Having always maintained that the cream of Goa is in Goa. on Sunday 20 April 2020 the team at Goa Medical College led by 58yr old Dr Edwin Gomes at the front line declared that Goa State was Covid -19 free, it is the first Indian state to do so. Over our Global Village there are professionals like Dr Edwin Gomes committed to bringing this pandemic to conclusion and we wish them every success. In the UK human trials for the vaccine are expected to start this Thursday 23 April 2020.
In England, an extension of the lockdown for another three weeks has been announced and is enforced with heavy fines. Life as we know it has been totally disrupted with over 800 people dying during a 24 hour period in hospital, the current total being 17,337 including our people. We are yet to be advised on the number who have died in our old age care homes or outside the hospital of Covid-19. Our condolences to their families may their souls rest in peace. When the pandemic first broke out, there was a rush for food in the London area and other parts of the UK ,resulting in empty shelves and the shortage of food particularly milk, pasta, flour and other essential items. There must have been a sigh of relief amongst greengrocers with the arrival of 28.95 tonnes of fruit and vegetables on 13 April ferried by Air India. With nearly all restaurants, pubs and coffee houses closed on government orders, food delivery wholesalers have had to diversify. One such company is Natures Choice of Covent Garden featured in London Evening Standard of 2 April and Goan Voice UK. Its Commercial Director Vernon Mascarenhas ex Mombasa has seen a boom in their free home delivery service from 16 to more than 1000 a day in less than two weeks. Facebook and Google are just two of the companies that have recommended the home delivery service to their employees. What: Fruit and veg boxes and £15 essentials boxes (eggs, milk, bread). Where: Across London. Check website for postcode radius area. The Goan Association in Swindon is voluntary collecting donations of spare tinned long lasting & dry food which will be distributed to those in need. If you need or would like to donate food please contact. Swindon Town Centre Nelson:07922 211439 Imtiyaz:07894543786 Veena 07514 819999 Robert: 07448251648 Corsehill Vaddo Richard:07725 837128 John 07404 781663 Rodbourne Vaddo Val:07404 490437 Walcot Vaddo Sheila: 07720 978510 Newton:07827 885628 >From Southampton listen in to Live Broadcasts from home to you by Presenters > Roque and Bihula Vaz Fridays 18:00 to 20:00 Europe’s Only Weekly FM LIVE >Radio Broadcast ‘Konkani Uloi London Fuloi’ @ Awaaz Community Radio 99.8 FM >South also on on your Mobile Cell Phone Laptop computer and other digital >devices. In Birmingham DAB Radio channel 9A An undated letter from the Board of The Goan Association UK to our community has offered Covid 19 food support and informs that the need for assistance is greater than ever and have been working tirelessly on an initiative to purchase daily essentials to help those within our community. No matter how unpredictable the future feels, rest assured that the Goan Association will ensure that we do our best to assist. In East London Ilford Vaddo North, South and surrounding areas the word is that the GOA are giving away bags of rice, lentils, chick peas for deserving Goans who are not working or lost their jobs contact Savio De Souza 0797 0984980 other Board members contact telephone numbers are. Ravi Vaz 07909 927539 Juliette DeNenezes-Dcosta 07958 537314 Richard Fernandes 07711 401157 Tino Goes 07821 900490 Bella Fernandes 07949 233307 Savio DeSouza 07918 693920 Email: goanassociatio...@gmail.com I understand that the GOA Board is Contacting your priest and village Association/union/society to enlist their assistance in conveying their message. If you do need help during this stressful time you are asked to contact the secretary of your village organisation also check your Parish Church Notice Board and Newsletter for Information. CAUTION The current situation breeds a lot of scammers and rackets…Our elderly living alone are very vulnerable and naive to Goans with Watermelon Smiles aka GWS who I feel are unaccountable. Readers should ensure that they not sign away their assets to fund Coffin Transport to Goa. Please let us know if you have been assisted in any way by the above, it would be good to hear such stories and know that work is being done to assist the vulnerable. Melvyn Fernandes (melvynfernan...@virginmedia.com) Thornton Heath Surrey 22 April 2020
