Port Blair, April 26: Four members of a family residing at Haddo were forced to remain in home quarantine after one family member called up his relative (tested corona positive) to know about his wellbeing.

The incident took place yesterday when Shri K.A. Rehman called up his relative who had tested corona positive, over phone. The intention was to enquire about the wellbeing of the victim, a resident of Bambooflat. It was hours after the call was made, the entire family was put on home quarantine by the authorities. The four members include Shri K.A. Rehman (70 years), Smti Rehana Rehman (60 years), Shri K. Abdul Rasheed (32 years) and Smti Saira Banu (29 years). The family is now confused whether calling up their relative was a crime committed or is it that the concerned authorities in Andaman are over concerned about their safety.

In a communication to Andaman Chronicle, Saira Banu said, is it that we are home quarantined just because my father-in-law spoke to his relative (a corona positive case) to enquire about his well-being? I fail to understand that a telephonic conversation with a corona positive person can land anyone in home quarantine.

Saira also questioned as to why people are not informed by the administration that telephonic conversation with corona positive is strictly prohibited as it can lead to spreading of the virus. Feeling victimised for no fault of theirs, Saira said that the family has no issues of being on home quarantine but the reason given by the administration is not convincing and may create a panic situation in the neighbourhood.

If corona virus can spread by talking over phone, then people should be made aware of, she said.

While Andaman Chronicle appreciates the efforts taken by the Andaman Authorities in tracing out victims and suspects of corona virus for the safety of the islanders, we also believe that the administration should be in a position to justify the people as to why they are being put on home quarantine or institutional quarantine. This kind of act is creating a sense of restlessness among the islanders. 

It is expected that the Andaman administration comes up with specific guidelines on do’s and don’t’s for the islanders so that the islanders are not shocked by the spot decision of the authorities. Mere tweets about people testing positive with confusing information is not solving any problem for the islanders but creating panic instead.