Administration committed to keep COVID-19 away from Islands: Health Department takes several initiatives to prevent spread COVID-19; Mandatory screening of passengers at airport & port

Port Blair, Mar 12: The Health Department of A&N Administration has taken several initiatives to prevent further spread of Novel Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) in the Islands. Three meetings of State Level Advisory Committee for Outbreak Control have been conducted by the Chief Secretary, Shri Chetan B. Sanghi under which several decisions have been taken, which interalia includes:-

1. Closure of Schools from Pre-Primary Class to Class-III: Considering the vulnerability of children to the virus and providing more space to the students of higher classes to keep a safe distance with co-students in the class to avoid further spread of COVID-19 through cough/sneeze droplets.
2. Mandatory screening of all inbound travellers (Indian/Foreigners) at Airport and Port/Harbour coming from mainland to these Islands to facilitate identification of infected passenger at the entry point itself. This will also facilitate self declaration by the passengers to know their history of travelling along with conditions of having fever, cough, cold etc.
3. The Health Department of A&N Islands has screened 339 travellers till date out of which 198 have completed 14 days of observation and released, 141 passengers are still under observation. Out of these total 339 travellers, 134 passengers are foreigners.
4. On persuasion of Advisory Committee for Outbreak Control, the Ministry has set up a laboratory in RCMR-ICMR, Port Blair for testing of COVID-19 samples at Port Blair itself.
5. The Department of Health has kept 05 Isolation beds in GB Pant Hospital, 02 beds each at District Hospitals and CHCs and 01 bed each at PHCs for infected persons. A team of Doctors has been posted at GB Pant Hospital round the clock to attend the cases of suspected passengers/persons and for recommendation of their case for quarantine/isolation and further testing of samples through RCMR-ICMR, Port Blair as per the laid down procedures.
6. The Administration also decided to reschedule outgoing of passengers ships to 16.03.2020. The incoming of ships allow only passengers from Inter-Islands, no mainland passengers/tourists will be allowed to board incoming ships from mainland. Further, International Cruise Ships which had planned and intimated their call to an Indian Port not later than 01.01.2020 will be allowed to call on such port.
7. The Administration is committed to keep COVID-19 away from the Islands. However, there is a need of help and cooperation from all stakeholders to make this mission successful. There is no need for panic but to keep self neat and clean by frequently washing hands and keeping a distance of one meter from infected person and adopt coughing and sneezing etiquette by covering face, mouth, nose and eyes by handkerchief, paper tissue. If handkerchief or tissue paper is not available cough into the flexed elbow.
8. Avoid participating in large gatherings such as Social/Political/religious gathering e.g. wedding, condolences, visiting movie theatres etc.
9. It is advised to not rely on Social Media rumours and consult WHO and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare websites for any information related to COVID-19. The public may also utilise our toll free no. 232102 for any information.