Port Blair, April 30: The Secretary, IP&T, Shri Sunil Kumar Singh while briefing the media persons in the conference hall of IP&T today informed that the massive surge in COVID cases and deaths taking place all over the Country is a matter of great concern. The COVID situation is also not good in these Islands too. Altogether, 40 people were found positive during RAT conducted at Airport and Bus Stand today. The Secretary informed that 7 flights with 576 passengers arrived in Port Blair. Out of this, 10 passengers were tested corona positive. Altogether, 476 stranded persons who were bound to travel to North and Middle Andaman were tested, out of which 30 people were found positive. The increasing number of COVID cases is matter of great concern for the Administration and these figures show that the situation is not improving in isles despite our best efforts, he said.

The Secretary informed the scribes that the Administration is slowly putting restrictions to control the movement of people and closure of all religious institutions was one such step in this direction. He said as the situation is not improving, the Administration is compelled to impose some more restrictions to protect and save the lives of the people of these Islands from this fatal virus.

He said people at large are supporting the Administration by following all the COVID protocols but some people are yet to understand the gravity of the situation and are flouting the COVID appropriate behavior risking not only their lives but of their family members and the society as a whole. 

The Secretary said that the vaccination drive is continuing and till 4 pm today 453 eligible persons above 45 plus age were vaccinated with COVISHIED vaccine. The Secretary informed that the Govt. of India will be launching the vaccination drive for the persons aged 18 to 44 and 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 18-44years. However, he said, the order placed to administer vaccines to persons in the age group of 18-44 years has not yet received. In view of this, he urged the eligible persons not to visit the Vaccination Centres tomorrow (May1). The Administration will chalk out a plan for vaccination for the new age group (18-44years) and the eligible persons will be communicated without fail as soon as the vaccine is received from the Serum Institute of India, the Secretary informed. The Secretary clarified that sufficient stock of vaccine is available for the eligible persons above 45 + and for those who are waiting for their second jab.   

The Director, ANIIMS, Dr. AK Mandal and the Deputy Director, GB Pant Hospital, Dr. Amitabh De replied to the queries raised by media persons on COVID -19 .

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