Sarthak Kanjilall
Port Blair, March 16: Though the Health Department is committed to keeping the COVID-19 virus away from the Islands by taking certain measures, but some of the measures taken by the department have forced the Islanders to raise questions.
According to the Islanders, when the department had taken preventive measures and closed the theaters, light, and sounds shows, beaches etc for a particular period to avoid the COVID-19 virus to spread from an infected, then why didn’t the department has taken a similar step in places like banks and ANIIDCO Wine Shops etc., where dozens of people gather at the same time.
“This morning when I approached two banks, located in Aberdeen Bazaar, there was such a rush that I preferred to return back,” said a prominent businessman of the Islands on condition of anonymity.
Neither there are any doctors deputed in the bank to check if any infected person is entering inside the bank nor there is any limit fixed for people to enter inside the bank.
“If one goes and checks the ANIIDCO wine shops at Bhathubasti, Dilanipur, there is a queue of 50-100 persons at a time, bars are always full, why it wasn’t noticed by the department, just because the revenue of crores is involved into it?” questioned a resident on the condition of anonymity.
When Andaman Sheekha contacted the Deputy Director, Health Department, Dr. Abhijit Roy in this regard, he said that executive order has already been passed for the closure of Bars and most probably the order will get implemented from tomorrow.
As far as the bank is concerned, Dr. Abhijit said that instructions have been given to some Bank Managers to give the permission of entry to consumers in limited numbers by keeping a security guard,” Dr. Abhijit said.
Secondly, Dr. Abhijit also advised employees of the bank to wear hand gloves while cash counting, also, he has told the bank staffs to use counting machines instead of counting the cash by hand. He also said the staffs to keep the gloves in Dettol for 15 minutes and wash in the evening, only then use it the next day. “We will also issue a guideline soon to the banks,” said Dr. Abhijit Roy.
