Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, July 29: In view of increasing of number of COVID-19 cases in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the UT Administration today announced complete lockdown on weekends i.e. Saturday and Sunday till the situation improves in the Islands. All the offices of Government of India/UT/local bodies, shops, commercial Private establishments, transport services, hospitality services, etc. shall remain closed during the lockdown period. However, essential services such as water, electricity, sanitation, and establishments, industrial hospitals, veterinary hospitals, medical including their manufacturing and distribution units both in establishments public and private sector such as dispensary, chemists, pharmacies (including Jan Aushadhi Kendra), medical equipment shops, laboratories, nursing homes, ambulance, police, fire and emergency services, Disaster Management, Prison Management, the transportation services involved in logistics of essential services will remain exempted from the lockdown.
As per the order CS/Sr.PS/05/2020 issued today, all mainland and inter island passengers/travellers shall be home quarantined for seven days from the day they enter into the island/district or till they are tested negative, whichever is earlier.
Passengers who are not residents of Port Blair/ Ferrargunj Tehsil will have to pay for the institutional quarantine on rates fixed by General Administration Department.
The Government servants returning from mainland will work from home, till they are tested negative for Corona.
The rate for RTCPR test is fixed at Rs.2200/- per test in line with the rate fixed by the Ministry. The passengers who are asymptomatic and not covered under filters and relaxations allowed by the administration, but want to test themselves voluntarily, will have to pay for the test.
The passengers arriving at airport from mainland and destined to tribal areas will be tested with RTCPR test. All other asymptomatic traveller from mainland will be tested by Antigen test. Symptomatic traveller/ ILI cases to be tested as per existing protocols.
Nodal officer COVID-19 to take daily samples from crowded places like vegetable market fish market etc. Regular random testing of the frontline staff to be done.
No convoy will pass through Jarawa reserve till further orders. Shipping department to increase frequency of ships/ boats to facilitate smooth communication to the people of North and Middle Andaman District.
Notices to be pasted at a conspicuous place on the houses of the persons who are under quarantine/ isolation and suspect/ confirmed cases.
DCs to coordinate and supervise surveillance and enforcement by Police, Transport Department, local bodies and other departments.
Concerned DCs should ensure effective implementation of the order and penalties be imposed for any violations.
