Panaji, Mar 24 (IANS): The Congress in Goa on Tuesday raised doubts about repeated claims made by the state government of zero COVID-19 positive cases, in absence of a single testing laboratory, in the coastal state.

A statement issued by the state Congress President Girish Chodankar also said, that no effort was made by the BJP-led coalition government in Goa to start a virology laboratory, since the time the viral outbreak was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation.

"The COVID-19 alarm has not yet woken up this government. It is the people of Goa that needs to be appreciated for taking all necessary precautions. That is why the situation seems under control, even though the government failed to establish a basic virology laboratory to test COVID-19 in Goa,a Chodankar said in his statement.

"We wish and desire that no positive cases are traced in Goa, but we do not agree with government figures of ZERO positive cases in the state without virology laboratory or collection centre in the state," Chodankar also said the state government was in "denial mode" on the issue.

"Why is the Health Minister taking so much time to give permission to start testing labs facilities in Goa, when his own party at the Centre has permitted them," Chodankar said, referring to the central government's recent decision to approve six private laboratories for COVID-19 testing.