Port Blair, Feb.7: The Chief Secretary, A&N Administration conducted a meeting of the State Level Advisory Committee on Outbreak Control in the conference hall of the Secretariat today (Feb.7, 2020), to review the status of preparedness in tackling Novel Corona Virus (nCoV), in case of its outbreak in A&N Islands. The meeting was also attended by Shri K R Meena, Principal Secretary (Health), ShriDependraPathak, DGP A&N Police, Smt. KritiGarg, Secretary (H), ShriOmkar Singh, DHS, ShriGirishArora, President ACCI and other members of the Committee. The Chief Secretary was apprised of the background of the disease and steps taken by the A&N Administration along with future plan of action to combat the nCoV by Dr. Avijit Roy, NO (nCoV). He further apprised about the arrangements made for isolation of infected persons having history of travel out of China after 15th January 2020. It was informed that as on date, only one medical student studying in China, who is on his home visit to Port Blair has been kept under home isolation as a precautionary measures to watch over any development of symptoms; however as on date he is healthy. There is no case detected of Corona Virus in these Islands so far. During the meeting, discussion was held on various methods adopted to ensure filtration of passengers, who are entering the Islands from the infected countries. The Chief Secretary directed all concerned to augment the IEC activities in these Islands to create awareness among the people through various means and media. He also directed to tackle fake news effectively to avoid any panic situation. He further directed officials of Health Department to keep close watch on the situation and apprise him daily on the development on the issue till the Alert Level is down by the WHO.
