Spike in positive case forces Administration to resort to lockdown: Secretary (IP&T)
Port Blair, May 21: The Secretary, IP&T, Shri Sunil Kumar Singh today said that a complete lockdown will be imposed by the A&N Administration in the entire South Andaman District from Monday May 24, 2021. The decision has been taken after reviewing the COVID-19 situation in A&N Islands wherein the number of positive cases has reached 274 as on date.
Despite best efforts made by the Administration and putting in all kinds of measures viz. making availability of medicines, oxygens, ventilators and the hard work by doctors, paramedical staff, field workers and other stakeholders, the COVID positive cases didn’t come down to single digit as was expected. This has compelled the A&N Administration to take a decision to go for a complete lockdown to contain the spread of the virus and to save the precious lives of the Islanders. Modalities and protocols of the lockdown will be issued in due course, said the Secretary urging the Islanders not to panic and not to overstock essential items.
Since last one month, the Administration has been monitoring the COVID situation and the surge in positive cases in Isles which, he said, was not at all coming down and the single day surge of COVID cases went upto 49 on May 20, 2021. “We have done everything possible but number of positive cases has not come down to single digit and Administration left with no option but to go for a lockdown in South Andaman District from May 24.
Referring to the Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) conducted among passengers, the Secretary said on May 21, 3 flights with 270 passengers arrived and during the Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) conducted on these passengers, 6 persons were found positive. He further informed that 105 persons bound for Middle & North Andaman were tested at Ferrargunj of which 7 persons were found positive.
About vaccination drive, the Secretary said it is continuing and today 347 eligible beneficiaries were vaccinated in South Andaman, out of which 281 were of 18 + and rest of them were above 45+ age. The Secretary further informed that vaccination for 18+ eligible beneficiaries started in Car Nicobar today. Altogether, 51 persons of 18+ age were administered vaccine.
The Director ANIIMS, Dr. AK Mandal said that 16 new COVID patients were admitted today in G.B. Pant Hospital and 7 patients were discharged. With this, the number of corona positive patients in Hospital is 96. Out of the 96 patients, 75 are on Oxygen support and 4 are on ventilator.
The Deputy Director, G.B. Pant Hospital, Shri Amitabha De said that altogether, 10 patients were admitted at COVID Care Centres and 4 patients were discharged and the number of patients in the COVID Care Centres is 54. He further informed that 2 COVID patients were admitted and 3 patients were discharged from COVID Care Centre Wimberlygunj and 7 patients were still admitted in the Centre, he added.
The Deputy Director IP, Shri R.S Meena also attended the press conference.