Port Blair, Apr 2: The designated laboratory for COVID-19 in A&N Islands, the RMRC–ICMR, Dollygunj tested 23 samples of suspected cases on 01.04.2020 and all the 23 persons tested negative. It is pertinent to mention that the UT has conducted test of 177 persons till date out of which test results of 10 persons have been found to be positive, and 167 were negative. All health parameters of the 10 positive tested persons are normal and stable. The Health Department has kept ready 159 isolation beds in GB Pant Hospital, INHS Dhanvantri Hospital, Pillar Hospital and other medical facilities of Administration to admit and treat the positive tested cases.
The Administration is keeping close eyes on the potential suspected cases in the Islands. Presently, 357 persons are kept under close observation, who are in institutional quarantine facilities made in the Government Guests Houses/Private Hotels. The Health Department has requisitioned 18 such facilities with 470 rooms/beds to accommodate theses highly suspected cases. Besides, 1293 people are under home quarantine. Till date, the Administration has kept 2120 persons under home quarantine/institutional quarantine out of which 524 persons have successfully completed their quarantine period and they have been released from the quarantine facilities. The Administration is closely observing the health conditions of these suspected cases by asking about their health condition on telephone twice a day. Teams of Medical Officers have also been constituted to monitor their health conditions on a daily basis. In case they develop any symptoms of cough, cold and fever, their samples will be taken and send to designated laboratory RMRC–ICMR, Dollygunj for testing.
The Administration has identified 26 highly suspected cases of Tabligh Jammat who came from mainland recently. The tests of 10 persons have already been conducted. The tests of 16 remaining persons will be conducted today.
