Chief Secretary reviews status of preparedness for COVID-19 in A&N Islands

Port Blair, Mar. 4: The Chief Secretary A&N Administration, Shri Chetan B. Sanghi convened a meeting of the State Level Advisory Committee in the conference hall of the Secretariat today to review the status of preparedness for Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) in A&N Islands. The meeting was also attended by Shri K R Meena, Principal Secretary (Health), Shri Dependra Pathak, DGP A&N Islands, Smti Kriti Garg, Secretary (Health), Shri Girish Arora, President ACCI and other members of the committee.

During the meeting discussion was held on various measures to be taken to prevent importation of the Corona virus in A&N Islands. Also, the Chief Secretary directed the concerned to augment the intensive IEC activities in these Islands for threat perception through various media. It was directed to ensure mandatory declaration by travelers who have history of traveling in 14 countries notified by GoI. If need be, the declaration should also be taken from all passengers coming to Andaman & Nicobar Islands through flights and ships.

     The Chief Secretary has further appealed to the general public to avoid fake news and not to create panic and clear all the doubts by calling the call center or visiting the nearest health institution and obtain support of the Health Authorities in airport and port.

      Earlier, the Chief Secretary was appraised of the background of the disease and the steps being taken by A&N Administration to prevent the infection of virus by Dr. Avijit Roy, Nodal Officer (COVID-19). He was further appraised about the home isolation undertaken by Health Department of the persons having history of travel to China after 15.01.2020 and other Countries put under restrictions.

    In the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, 170 persons were/are under home observation. Among them 04 are tourists who migrated out and 02 Indian students completed their 14 days Home Isolation and have no symptoms, hence, released from observation. It was informed that presently 160 defense personnel who have the history of travelling from Thailand (Phuket) are under observation. The Defense Medical Team is keeping observation on them. One defense person has developed symptoms of cold, body pain and fever and he was kept under Hospital Observation in Defense Hospital. The Patient got tested from KIMS Institute of Preventive Medicine and Research, Chennai and tested negative. The patient is now stable and has been discharged from the Hospital and is now under observation at home. One Indian student with history of travelling back from Italy and 02 Italian Nationals are under observation and all are in good health and have no symptoms till date. 02 Samples have been sent for testing, out of which results of all the samples came as negative.