Port Blair, April 28: The Secretary, IP&T, Shri Sunil Kumar Singh while briefing the media persons in the conference hall of IP&T today said that massive surge in COVID cases and deaths taking place all over the country is a matter of great concern. Informing about the COVID situation in these Islands, the Secretary said today 9 flights with 568 passengers and 10 infants arrived in Port Blair. Out of this, 12 passengers were tested corona positive. The Secretary stated that there is daily addition of around 40 to 50 corona positive cases in these Islands and the numbers are not coming down which, he said, is a matter of grave concern.

The Secretary further informed that an important decision has been taken by the Administration today to create a ‘Rescue Cell’ which will be headed by the Secretary (IT) with two members viz. Secretary (Personnel) and Secretary (APWD). The focus of the Cell is to co-ordinate on matters related to medical supplies, food, transportation of stranded labourers in any kind of eventuality during the pandemic and bringing back stranded islanders form mainland. The needy people can contact the Control Room of the South Andaman District on phone numbers 240127, 238881, toll free no. 1077 and a Whatsapp No. 9531888844 in which they can send the information and their grievances. Any crisis related to food, transportation, medical supplies and evacuation of stranded labourers can be intimated in these numbers for its immediate solution, the Secretary said.

As far as the medical supplies are concerned, the Administration is in a comfortable position as of now. He said the Administration is closely monitoring the COVID situation, the number of active cases, the number of supplies and  the amount of medical supplies required. 

The Secretary informed that the Govt. of India is launching the vaccination drive for the persons aged 18 to 44. The Administration has placed orders with the Serum Institute of India for sufficient doses of COVISHIELD vaccines to cover the eligible persons in the age group of 18-44 years.  The A&N Administration will chalk out a plan for vaccination for the new age group as soon as the vaccine is received from Serum Institute of India.

The Deputy Director, GB Pant Hospital, Shri Amitabha De answered the queries raised by the media.

The Director, IP&T, Shri Alok Kumar and the Deputy Director, IP, Shri RS Meena also attended the press conference.