Denied Testing and Restrictions in RAT in Andamans a Matter of Concern, Bairagi Takes up the Issue with Chief Secretary

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Port Blair, May 21: During the second wave of COVID-19, many people were asked to remain on home quarantine due to different reasons but they have not been tested for COVID-19 after that. People have been alleging that their quarantine period is over but there is no one to confirm their negative report, thereby forcing them to continue in quarantine.

Moreover it has also been noticed that COVID-19 testing not available to people on demand for reasons not known to the general public. It has also been noticed that for getting tested for COVID-19 a person needs to take permission from DC.

In this time of pandemic, when the virus has been mutating the best cure is considered to be prevention and early detection for an effective fight with the virus. Unfortunately, when testing itself is denied and restricted in the first place, there are all the more chances of the virus reaching a second level when a person requires hospitalisation and becomes a burden too on the system.

Taking up such issues and concerns of the general public Shri. Ajoy Bairagi, State President, Bharatiya Janata Party has written a letter to the Chief Secretary of Andaman & Nicobar Administration requesting him to look into these issues.

People are in panic as there are new strains being discovered, said Bairagi requesting the competent authority to conduct testing of persons under home quarantine. He said testing will surely help in exact tracing of positive cases for further tackling.

Bairagi also informed that the persons in home quarantine are deprived of basic services and they are finding it very difficult to arrange even food for themselves. He added that most of them have also exhausted their savings and it will be helpful if the Administration provides ration items to such people on humanitarian grounds.

The Govt. of India in their statements have made it clear that maximum tests have to be  done at every level, but in the Islands procedural hurdles have been restricting the campaign. Without testing the whole idea of tracing and curbing the pandemic is not possible, said Bairagi.

He requested the authorities for appointing a competent authority dedicated only for testing approval and to conduct tests in large numbers for those who are symptomatic.