John Wilbert & Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Mar 30: In a shocking development as many as 28 people have been tested COVID-19 positive in a single day today while conducting test at Port Blair for passengers of Campbell Bay.
According to reports out of these 28 people 20 are labourers from Jharkahand, who reached Port Blair on 23 March 2021 from Kolkata. Surprisingly all these 28 people, from a group of total 43 labourers, had brought RTPCR negative test report with them. The negative reports were also found uploaded online, while verifying at Port Blair airport by local authorities.
Since a long time many people have been alleging that in Mainland RTPCR negative reports are available on payment basis without even conducting any test. Although such claims, could never be verified by authorities but there are strong rumours about this issue since a long time.
Now testing as many as 20 passengers COVID-19 positive, even after brining RTPCR negative test reports, shows that something is fishy, in this entire issue.
The million dollar question is who paid for the RTPCR tests of these 43 people and whether the tests were actually conducted. Only a thorough inquiry will bring the truth out as this matter is directly connected to safety of every individual in these Islands.
The Administration must take up this matter with concerned state government and urge for strict testing SOPs for incoming passengers as any mistake or any mismanagement may result in a disaster in these Islands.
However, this must also be investigated whether these people got infected at Port Blair. If they are infected at Port Blair, then Andaman certainly needs widespread and mass testing on random basis to find out in which pockets COVID-19 infections are silently spreading.
