Team Assesses Ground Situation of COVID-19 and Measures in Place to Control the Spread

Port Blair, Oct. 14: The Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Health), Shri V. Candavelou, IAS along with the Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman, Shri Suneel Anchipaka, IAS, presently holding the charges of DC, N&M Andaman, DHS and a medical specialist, Dr. Shiv Shankar Singh from GB Pant Hospital made a visit to Diglipur to apprise the various arrangements and actions being taken by the Administration to contain the spread of COVID-19 at Diglipur. The team was accompanied by the DIG (HQ), SP (N&M) and AC Diglipur.

During the interaction, it was decided to declare hotspot areas under Diglipur Tehsil as containment zones. The containment zones have been made to restrict unnecessary movement of people and thus to contain the further spread of infection. It was also decided to increase the surveillance and door to door distribution of medicines inside the containment zones. Teams were also formed to monitor the situation round the clock.

The team also visited the Community Health Centre at Diglipur to assess the medical facilities, availability of staff and other requirements to meet any contingency. The AC Diglipur and CMO were directed to strengthen the facilities at all the Primary Health Centres, so as to minimize the crowd and reduce the load at the CHC Diglipur.

The Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Health) directed the APWD, Civil Supplies, RD Officials, Police to assist the District Administration for effective management of containment zones. The Director (Health Services) was directed to provide pulse ozimeters, VTM kits, masks and other necessary equipment whenever needed to CHC Diglipur. The Police department was directed to strictly enforce the COVID-19 protocols within the containment zone and minimize the movement of public inside the containment zones and the peripheral areas.

It was also directed to strengthen the surveillance through telephone monitoring of ILI/ SARI cases and the enforcement of the same through field surveillance in coordination with ASHA and Anganwadi workers.

The District Administration is taking a targeted preventive approach by increasing the surveillance on co-morbid persons. It was also emphasized to the general public to follow the two GOLDEN PRINCIPLES of COVID-19 i.e. wearing masks properly and maintaining social distancing.