Port Blair, Sept. 8: The A&N Administration is fully committed for the wellbeing of its tribes and the safety of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups. It is to inform that all the 11 Great Andamanese tribals who tested COVID-19 positive earlier, have now fully recovered.

It may be recalled that as a precautionary measure, the Administration had earlier shifted Great Andamanese to Strait Island in April, 2020, after testing them for COVID-19. Since many of them are in Govt. Jobs and have government accommodation in Port Blair, many families have returned back to Port Blair after the declaration of Unlock 2 & 3. Meanwhile, in view of surge in COVID-19 cases in August, 2020, they were again advised to shift to their settlement at Strait Island. During the course of shifting and testing at the settlement, 11 Great Andamanese tribals were tested positive for COVID-19 with asymptomatic or mild symptoms and they were kept in GB Pant Hospital as an abundant precaution/or in home isolation. After undergoing mandatory isolation period, all of them had tested negative for COVID-19, at different point of time.      

Now, it is to inform that all these tribals are in good state of health and the remaining few will be shifted to their settlement at Strait Island shortly by the Andaman Adim Janjati Vikas Samiti (AAJVS).  The Tribal Welfare Officer of AAJVS and ANM of Medical Sub-centre at Strait Island have been provided with Thermal Scanner & Oximeter to monitor their body temperature and oxygen level periodically.  

Further, the Administration has taken samples of Onge tribals from Dugong Creek and random samples of Jarawa tribe from different tribal habitations and all of them have tested negative. The Shompens are also safe in their abode at Great Nicobar Island. All field functionaries posted in the tribal settlements have been advised to be alert to protect the tribes from COVID-19, said a release from the Andaman & Nicobar Administration today.