21 days lockdown: People in home isolation asked to stay indoors: strict action against defaulters

Port Blair, Mar 25: The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has called for a nationwide lockdown for the next 21 days from the midnight of March 24, in an effort to contain the COVID -19 pandemic. The National Disaster Management Authority has issued the directions to all states/UTs to take effective measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and the National Disaster management executive committee has issued guidelines to be observed during these 21 days with directions for their strict implementation. It categorically allows only the bare minimum of services and people to move outside their homes, only for providing essential or emergency services.

As part of these measures, 1586 people who have arrived from mainland have been put under mandatory isolation of 14 days. All these people are hereby requested to cooperate fully and refrain from venturing out of their houses or come in contact with people within their home. All the houses under quarantine are being marked and the community is being involved in ensuring that home quarantine is being complied with.

Special teams have been constituted by the Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman for tracking all the people under home quarantine. Any persons found violating their mandated quarantine are strictly being proceeded against. On the 24th of March, legal action was taken against 03 persons found outside their homes. Further on the 25th of March, FIR was lodged against 02 persons from Mithakhari village for the same violation

 The general public is also requested to maintain the lockdown and not leave houses until absolutely necessary. Any person violating the containment measures will be liable to be proceeded against as per the provisions of Section51-60 of the disaster management act apart from legal action under Section 188 of the IPC. Any irresponsible behavior poses a grave danger to community at large. As per the provisions under section 51 b of the Disaster Management Act, refusal to comply with any direction given by the authorities, resulting in loss of lives or imminent danger, will attract punishment to the extent of imprisonment up to 2 years.

 People are requested to avoid visit to hospitals for minor ailments as services of telephonic consultations have been made available by the health department. In view of closure of all shops, a localized ward based doorstep delivery of basic groceries was devised for PBMC which shall start from tomorrow onwards, duly ensuring social distancing.

All the above measures are to minimize the need of people to venture out of their homes.

Lastly, people have been urged to refrain from spreading unverified rumors on social media as they jeopardize the efforts put in for controlling the spread on Corona virus. Social media is an important tool in the fight against this pandemic and its misuse may lead to grave consequences for the society in general and invite penal provisions for the sender.