Port Blair, June 30: A&N Islands is a standalone Territory and the Administration is trying its level best to restrict the entry of corona virus in our Islands from mainland by conducting RTPCR tests of the flight passengers on their arrival for the safety of the Islanders. This was stated by the Secretary (Health), Shri Ram Niwas Sharma briefing media on COVID-19 situation in A&N Islands in the conference hall of IP&T today. The Administration is focusing on the fivefold strategy of Testing, Tracking, Treating, COVID Appropriate Behavior and Vaccination. As per the directions of Chief Secretary, A&N Administration the testing facility in the Islands are given utmost importance with two third of the tests have been conducted through RTCPR while one third through RAT.
The Secretary said that during the RTPCR test conducted on 350 passengers who arrived here yesterday, no corona positive case has been detected. Similarly, during the tests conducted on 141 persons bound for Middle & North Andaman at Ferrargunj also no positive case was detected. The mobile testing team visited Manglutan and Manjery area wherein 94 persons were tested till afternoon and there too, all were found negative.
Today, three flights with 421 passengers arrived here and their RTPCR reports are awaited, he said. The Secretary said that there are 42 corona active cases in South Andaman as on 29.06.21 while there is no active case in North & Middle Andaman and Nicobar District.
He further informed that the number of corona positive patients admitted in the G. B Pant Hospital is 4 and all of them are on Oxygen support and no patient is on ventilator. He reiterated that people should follow COVID Appropriate Behaviour by wearing mask, use hand sanitizer, maintain social distancing and wash their hands regularly.
The Secretary said that vaccination is an important weapon to keep the virus at bay. He said, 38.05% population has been vaccinated till yesterday, out of the total population of 4, 00,000. He said, till yesterday, 1,72,916 persons have been inoculated with COVISHIELD Vaccine in A&N Islands. First dose have been given to 1,52,188 beneficiaries covering 54.04% of the population. The second has been given to 20,728 beneficiaries and the number of beneficiaries being vaccinated with second dose is also picking up. He said that second dose count is less as it is given after 84 days since the first dose is administered. 1, 03,713 beneficiaries in the age group of 45 plus have been inoculated while the number of 18 plus beneficiaries vaccinated stood at 48,475 as on June 29.
He said that the vaccination drive is continuing smoothly and till 3 pm today, 460 eligible persons 18 plus were inoculated in JNRM while the number of beneficiaries vaccinated under 45 plus age group stood at 190. Efforts will be made to cover the small pockets as per the availability of vaccine. He informed that there is sufficient stock of vaccine for the 2nd dose beneficiaries and urged them to inoculate themselves as per their due date without fail.
The Secretary also sought the co-operation of one and all in following COVID Appropriate Behavior which will help the Administration in controlling the spread of the virus. “We should not let our guard down and should not be complacent till our Islands achieve ZERO status of COVID positive cases”. He urged everyone to adopt COVID Appropriate Behaviour as a culture in day to day life.
He assured that there is no shortage of essential items throughout the Islands. It is being ensured that all essential items including LPG cylinders are in sufficient quantity covering the length and breadth of the Islands.
The Director, ANIIMS, Dr AK Mandal, Director (IP&T), Shri Alok Kumar, Director (CS&CA), Shri Deepak Pundir, Deputy Director (IP), Shri RS Meena , Deputy Director (Health), Dr. Amitabha De were also present during the press briefing.