Panaji, Mar 6 (IANS): The Goa government is in the process of creating three more quarantine facilities for people suspected of coronavirus infection, state Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said on Friday.

"We are creating additional isolation wards in various hospitals to deal with suspect cases," Rane said even as one British and one Nepali national were among the four persons currently quarantined as suspect cases in Goa Medical College.

These 10-bed isolation facilities will be set up in government health centres in Chicalim and Margao in South Goa district, and one in Sanquelim in North Goa district.

Currently, four persons suspected of having COVID-19 symptoms are admitted to the isolation ward of the Goa Medical College, which includes one British woman and one Nepali national. The blood samples of all four have since been sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune.

Goa Medical College Dean Dr Shivanand Bandekar said that a special screening facility will be set up in the out-patient department (OPD) to deal with suspected cases among foreigners. This will help identify persons with coronavirus-like symptoms more efficiently, he said.

The spectre of the virus has cast a shadow on the tourism footfalls in the coastal state.

Leader of the Opposition Digambar Kamat has said that he would not celebrate his birthday on March 8, owing to the coronavirus threat.