Clarification on the News Item published in media
Port
Blair, Apr 20: This has reference to Article Published in one of the the local media of the Islands” regarding suspicion to spreading virus to the
North & Middle Andaman District by allowing movement of police forces to
the district. The article further said that samples of all the 3 (Three)
quarantined people are being tested at RMRC-ICMR, Dollygunj, and Port Blair. It
is also mentioned that 33 persons have been put in quarantine inside the
vehicle ferry at Middle Strait and one of the relatives of the confirmed case
has been put on Institution quarantine at Baratang. Moreover, the article also
quotes the WhatsApp post of CMO Rangat expressing his concern on the decision
of the Administration.
In this regard, I would like to clarify
that considering no case in North & Middle Andaman and Nicobar District the
Administration decided to not allow any movement from South Andaman District to
these two Districts except maintaining supplies of essential commodities and
emergency services including Law and Order. As per directions issued by Deputy
Commissioner South Andaman, persons having Negative (-Ve) tested report of
COVID-19 will only be allowed to these districts in emergencies. In compliance
with these guidelines, the Administration on 17.04.2020 has allowed movement of
46 Police personnel at 9.30 am to 04 Look Out Posts (LOP) i.e. East Island,
Barman Nallah, Luis-In-Lep-Bay and Interview Island pertaining to North &
Middle Andaman district after having their report tested as negative (-Ve) on
16.04.2020. During their journey to these destinations 2 (Two) persons of this
contingent were retained in Rangat who were figured in the contact list of a
confirmed case reported by Lab on 17th April 2020 evening. One person was also
retained at Diglipur who has developed symptoms of Cold. However all these 03
persons including remaining 43 tested negative to COVID-19 before allowing
their movement from South Andaman to the out posts of North & Middle
Andaman. They have been quarantined at Rangat and Diglipur as a precautionary
measure. Some people including a Daily, terms the decision as an unexpected
blunder which is very unfortunate and created an atmosphere of panic and
mistrust among the people which is not warranted in this time of emergency. The
decision of Administration was well conceived and based on the prudent laid
down policy which took all precautions to prevent infection of virus including
maintenance of law and order in larger interest of public. The Administration
has observed all the precautions while moving forces from Port Blair to North
and Middle Andaman District including social distancing and respiratory
etiquettes and moved after having their Negative report for COVID-19 on
16.04.2020. Therefore, it is our request to all the print and electronic media to
confirm such contents/or take opinion of Department of Health before publishing
such news to avoid misinformation and panic in the public. Media is vital
shareholder in our fight to COVID-19 and should contribute constructively to
prevent spread of infection effectively. The Administration has already
initiated action against the officer who without confirming facts from the
Department made such unwanted comments, a press release said.
No comments:
Post a Comment