Panaji - Dr Edwin Gomes, who emerged as the face of Goa''s Covid-19 battle and served as in-charge at the state''s only designated Covid-19 hospital, has tested coronavirus positive.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has wished Gomes, a "speedy recover".

Dr Gomes had been giving a warm send-off to recovered patients by hugging them to send across a message to the society to accept these people and not ostracise them.

Dr Edwin Gomes, the Goa Medical College's medicine department head who led a team of doctors at the Margao-based ESI hospital for the treatment of COVID-19 patients, has hugged almost 200 patients at the time of their discharge in the last three months.

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"Our #COVID19Awarrior Dr Edwin Gomes has been at the forefront of this fight against the pandemic for last several months. Dr Gomes has helped hundreds of patients win the battle against coronavirus & I am confident he will emerge victorious in his battle too," Sawant tweeted, after the doctor was admitted to the Covid-19 care facility.

Gomes, 58, also the head of medicine at the state''s only medical college -- Goa Medical College, had last week ended his unbroken 98-day shift at the designated Covid-19 hospital.

Read Also: After working nonstop on COVID duty, Goa Doctor returns home after 98 days

The state has over 900 active cases and has reported 17 fatalities.

The Chief Minister said four-five Covid-19 patients who died were suffering from cancer. "8-10 patients were aged above 80 years, while one died of liver failure. The death rate has increased due to co-morbid conditions," Sawant said at the Secretariat.