Response to COVID-19: Goa, India

When the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) came to paradise, India had to try to act swiftly. Goa is a tiny emerald land on the western coast of the Indian peninsula with a population of 1.8 million. On its north runs the Terekhol River, which separates Goa from Maharashtra, and on the south lies the state of Karnataka.

However, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in India, its flourishing tourist industry became a cause of concern and vulnerability for the state, propelling the state machinery to swing into focused action very early on in the pandemic and take innovative steps to solve critical problems. As of June 30th, Goa has reported 1251 cases and 3 deaths.

It is among the least affected states in the country with just 724 active cases. The state has been able to achieve what looked impossible just a few months ago. Some of Goa’s achievements are important not only for the state but also for the larger national and global fight against COVID-19. This report highlights two examples: how the state repurposed its manufacturing capacity to meet the demand for hand sanitizer; and how Goa’s thriving pharmaceutical industry managed to minimize disruption and quickly recover its production capacity to pre-COVID levels.