Margao business owners jittery amid a spike in Covid cases

Covid-19 cases continued to show an upward trend in the commercial capital of Goa, Margao, as the active cases have breached the 200 mark on Sunday, with the figure jumping to 211 from 166 on Saturday.

As the covid cases increase, the fear of a third wave is looming large. Along with the third wave and health concerns, many business owners in Margao are now worried about the economic fall out of the third wave.

During the first wave of Covid-19, bars, restaurants, hotels and general shops in Margao's New Market area were closed for two to three months in a row. The shopkeepers are worried that the shops will be closed for the third time as the new infection is spreading again.

In the first phase of the Corona, bar and restaurant, hotel and bath shops in the Madgaon New Market area were closed for one and a half to two months in a row and the traders here had to bear the loss. The shopkeepers are worried that the shops will be closed for the second time as the new infection is spreading again.

"The entertainment programs were contributing to the spread of Corona infection. This is hurting the business community. The shops had been closed earlier and shopkeepers had suffered losses. The government has not reimbursed the shopkeepers. However, our shops will not be closed from now on. If this happens then we are going to ask the government for compensation," said Vinod Shirodkar, President, Madgaon New Market Traders Association.

Another business owner, who runs a hotel, said that the business never recovered since the outbreak of Covid. "March 2020, our business came to a complete standstill. Last time, the government did not help. Another lockdown will make our life difficult." he said.

S Chavan who runs a barber shop said, "the shop had to be closed for six months last time. Borrowing money from some places was enough to support the family."