Panaji, Aug 31 (IANS): With more than one percent of the state's population already testing positive for Covid-19, Goa may be heading towards herd immunity, a top health official said on Monday.

Speaking to reporters, Dr Shivanand Bandekar, Dean of the Goa Medical College, the state government's top medical facility, said that the increase in Covid-19 cases in Goa was also a "social problem".

"It is a social problem also. People should also observe social distancing. We should wear masks. If within the community we can take precautions, we can very well control it (Covid-19). Slowly herd immunity is coming. Hopefully it will come," Bandekar said.

According to official statistics, Goa has recorded 16,553 confirmed Covid-19 cases, while the number of active coronavirus cases in the state is 3,646. 178 persons in Goa have died after testing Covid-19 positive ever since the pandemic broke earlier this year.

The official said that one of the reasons behind the increasing number of deaths in the state was because of late reporting of Covid-19 cases. "People are not coming forward on time, fearing social stigma. Our plea to people is, please report early'," Bandekar said.