Panaji, With three more Covid-19 deaths reported in Goa in the last 24 hours, Congress leader Digambar Kamat on Saturday demanded its only designated Covid-19 hospital be handed over to the Army and a White Paper issued on the coronavirus situation in the state.

In a statement issued here, the Leader of Opposition in the Goa Assembly also demanded that the White Paper should also tell the efforts made by the state government to manage the health crisis.

"I want to ask the government with a heavy heart: 'How many more deaths does the government need to show sensitivity towards Covid patients to provide proper, safe and secure food and other facilities?'" Kamat, a former Chief Minister, said.

With three more deaths in the last 24 hours, Goa's Covid-19 death count has reached 12. The state has 895 active cases.

"The government must immediately hand over the Covid hospital management to the Army, before more damage is done to the innocent people," Kamat said.

The statement comes a day after Union Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik said that with the Covid-19 infections on the rise in the state, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had sought the help from area commanders of armed forces' units in the state and the Indian Coast Guard.

"At least now, when the Goa government is seeking help from the Army, it is important not to waste any more time. It is worrying to see the pictures of pathetic situation in the Covid hospital going viral," the Congress leader said. The dedicated hospital is run from the Employees State Insurance Hospital in South Goa.

"Immediate action is needed to ensure that all coronavirus patients get hygienic and quality food, clean drinking water and other facilities. Goans need an action plan on controlling further spread of coronavirus."