5488 beneficiaries vaccinated today in A&N Islands taking the total doses administered to 67628

Port Blair, April 15: Today (April 15), 5488 beneficiaries were vaccinated in 36 sessions and by 85 teams in the entire UT of A&N Islands.

     To have more positive connotation to the vaccination drive, the A&N Administration has sent MV Kalighat Ship to Southern group of Islands with a Medical Team from DHS on board under the leadership of Dr. Ganesh Samaddar, CMO, NFSG to vaccinate all the eligible passengers on board in both onward and return journey too.

       A special camp was organized for employees of PBMC at Dr. Ambedkar Auditorium, Port Blair in which about 136 people were vaccinated. Shri Anandavardhan Mishra, Joint Secretary (PBMC) inaugurated the session. Another camp was organized at Van Sadan wherein, Shri Tarun Coomer, PCCF inaugurated the program and 116 people were vaccinated.

   Additional doses were airlifted to North and Middle and Little Andaman by Pawanhans helicopter to supplement the impending shortage.

       People’s participation is the core to the success of the vaccination drive and therefore keeping in view the response of the general public, the A&N Administration will continue the vaccination drive till all eligible people of these Islands are vaccinated. The vaccination site will be functional between 9 am to 4 pm and for those who already registered the sessions may be extended accordingly.

     People have been requested to follow COVID appropriate behavior by maintaining safe social distance ‘Do Gaj Ki Doori’, washing hand and face intermittently with soap and water ensuring 60 seconds of contact of soap with skin and wearing masks appropriately in crowded places. In addition to the vaccination all should adopt the COVID Appropriate Behavior ‘Safai Dawai aur Kadai’.

     People are informed that COVISHIELD vaccine is safe and 67628 doses have been administered so far in these Islands, without any complications. Only pregnant and lactating mother may refrain from taking the vaccine. People who are allergic to certain drugs may consult doctor before taking the vaccine. Any person having any sickness may also take the vaccines on priority.

A&N Administration has made full proof arrangements for compulsory Rapid Antigen Test of all incoming passengers

Port Blair, April 15: Shri Suneel Anchipaka, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman District and Shri Ravi Kumar Singh, IPS, Superintendent of Police, South Andaman District convened a meeting with all the Airline Operators of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and stressed the need to take urgent action to curb the surge of COVID cases in the District and briefed that strict and vigilant protocols are required at the Veer Savarkar International Airport.

The A & N Administration has made full proof arrangements for compulsory Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) of all incoming passengers at Veer Savarkar International Airport in addition to the mandatory RTPCR negative test report which has to be carried while travelling to Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The Airline Operators have been directed that RAT forms in prescribed format should be filled by the passenger before de-boarding the aircraft and the same has to be shown at the testing center before RAT test which shall be ensured by the airlines concerned.

It was informed that for facilitating the inbound passengers at VSI airport, two COVID testing centres have been set up at School Line Senior Secondary School and the ITF ground, Dairy Farm wherein sufficient testing teams have been deployed.  

          The Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman emphasized that testing with focus needs to be ensured effectively and prompt isolation of those infected (If any) and tracing their close contacts needs to be ramped up while strengthening public and private health care resources. He further stressed that “Ensuring COVID appropriate behaviour for all age groups” is mandatory in the district.

All flyers landing at VSI Airport will be taken to School Line School & ITF Ground for compulsory RAT tests from April 16

Port Blair, April 15: To tackle the recent surge in the COVID positive cases in the South Andaman and to prevent the further spread of virus the Administration has taken various proactive steps.

In this regard media briefing was held in the conference hall of District Office by Shri Suneel Anchipaka, Deputy Commissioner (SA), which was also attended by Shri Ravi Kumar Singh, Superintendent of Police (SA).

Addressing the media persons, the DC (SA) briefed that the Administration has already made full proof arrangements for compulsory Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), free of cost for all incoming passengers at Veer Savarkar International Airport so as to curb the chance of any infected person getting through. He further stated that the passengers shall fill the prescribed forms for RAT test to be provided to them by the airlines.The passengers upon arrival would then be transported to Govt. Senior Secondary School, School Line and ITF ground for conduct of RAT tests.

The DC (SA) further informed that after the conduct of RAT test, the persons who are tested negative shall be allowed to proceed further. The passengers (if any) tested positive shall be shifted to Government run COVID Care Centres or designated private hotels on payment basis.

The SP(SA) further informed the media persons that stringent action is being initiated against COVID protocol violators and fine to the tune of 9 lakhs has been collected during the past week. Further for public involvement at large a dedicated telephone no.9531892228 has been set up for the pubic to register complaints against habitual defaulters.

         The DC(SA)further urged the media persons to cooperate with the Administration in its fight against the virus and also to motivate the local populace in getting themselves vaccinated. He reiterated that the five-fold strategy of Testing, Tracing, Treatment, COVID appropriate behaviour and vaccination will be meticulously implemented in South Andaman.

Citizen Corner 15/04/2021

* Administration is fully equipped with COVID vaccines and other materials, and efforts are on to reach out last mile population. Citizens are now just need to get themselves vaccinated, follow SOPs and continue COVID appropriate behaviour till the pandemic phase turn away. This will make a big change in the humanity for generations to come.

* People are seen following physical distancing, avoiding crowd at markets, shops, etc. these days which is a good sign of awareness and responsibility. Of course, little hard to follow, but tomorrow we can move freely, if this practice continued till the pandemic phase go away. Actually, nobody wants to impose or be in Lockdown, Containment, Quarantine and Isolation Zones, but situation may demand it. Now it is upon Citizens, what the situation they want to make!

* The GB Pant Hospital since past two months sending patients to private clinics any blood tests including blood sugar test. The mighty Directorate of Health Services instead of increasing the quality and quantity of testing equipments, seems working to create dependency on private clinics, and patients are being forced visit private clinics. No choice, No matter how hardly they earn, patients are paying for their blood test reports at private clinics these days.

* Water is sufficiently available for now, but people are scared about the future eventuality, if it becomes insufficient. It is also our responsibility to use water judicially until the next season come.

* Fine on unmasked faces in the name of COVID-19 should not only enforce on roads, but also need to check in the big business malls and showrooms in the city. The innocent hardworking people are paying high to Police to breathe these days!