Port Blair, Aug 18: There has been a surge in the number of deaths due to COVID-19 in the islands, which covers South Andaman District and also the N&M Andaman District. The number of cases has also been witnessing a steep rise. While the corona scare seems to be never ending in the A&N Islands, which has limitations of facilities like infrastructure, medicines and most importantly staffs to manage the pandemic, the only solution for the A&N Administration to please the Centre seems to be manipulation of COVID-19 data.

As pointed out earlier in our reports, the number of deaths have been increasing along with the COVID-19 positive cases but the tailor made COVID-19 Bulletin presented by the A&N Administration has figures sufficient enough to project that things are getting under control.

In one such incident an Islander had called the helpline number for COVID-19 in South Andaman complaining of loss of smell and taste. After few minutes of cross questioning, the operator unaware of the consequences clears the Islander that COVID-19 tests are completely closed now. Only those patients who are authorized by the Doctor are tested. If the condition of the patient worsens, he can call up for the ambulance by dialling 102 and get the test done.

Though the concerned operator is likely to face the consequences for being honest, as the recording of the conversation has been tagged on Twitter to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and others, but nevertheless, the A&N Administration has finally found a great solution to control the number of COVID-19 cases. And that is to play with the data and stop testing. As the Hindi proverb goes, ‘Na rahega baans… Na bajegi Bansuri’.