All Tourism Activities in A & N Islands in all three districts will remain suspended for another 04 weeks: Secretary IP&T

Port Blair, May 20:The Secretary, IP&T, Shri Sunil Kumar Singh while addressing a COVID-19 media briefing held in the conference hall of IP&T today, said that after reviewing the prevailing COVID situation in Isles, all tourism activities in Andaman & Nicobar Islands ie. National Memorial Cellular Jail, Port Blair and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island including the sound and light show at both the places, all museums, all beaches, Baratang Caves, all water sports activities and any other tourism activities in all three Districts of Andaman & Nicobar Islands shall remain suspended for another 04 weeks and it has come into effect from today (May 20).

The Secretary also sought the co-operation of general public so as to bring down the number of active cases in our Islands. He once again appealed to the general public to minimize their movement, stay at home, don’t move around, don’t endanger your life, your family members lives and the lives of others.

Informing about the RAT test conducted among passengers, the Secretary informed that 3 flights with 138 passengers arrived today (May 20) and during the Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) conducted on these passengers, 1 person was found positive. He further informed that 79 persons were tested at Ferrargunj of which 3 persons were found positive.

The Secretary has once again reiterated the need for strictly adhering to COVID-19 protocol and urged the people to follow COVID appropriate behavior for their own safety, safety of their family members and the society at large. Following COVID Appropriate Behavior in letter and spirit by every individual will help the A&N Administration to arrest the spread of corona virus and to contain the positive cases in A&N Islands, the Secretary said.

About vaccination drive, the Secretary informed that it is continuing and today 379 eligible beneficiaries were vaccinated, in South Andamans, of which 291 were of 18+ age and rest of them were above 45+ age.

The Secretary further urged the citizens to help Administration in its fight against COVID-19 by spotting persons violating COVID appropriate behaviour. The Secretary urged to click pictures of violators who are not wearing face masks, not following social distancing norms and inform through Whatspp on A&N Police Helpline 3rd Eye mobile no. 9531892228 indicating the area and time of the violation sighted so that stringent action can be taken against the violators.

The Deputy Director, G.B. Pant Hospital, Shri Amitabha De said that 15 new COVID patients were admitted today in G.B. Pant Hospital and 10 patients were discharged. With this, the number of corona positive patients in Hospital is 91. Out of the 91 patients, 75 are on Oxygen support and 3 are on ventilator.

The Deputy Director further said that altogether, 18 patients were admitted at COVID Care Centres and 1 patients was discharged and the number of patients in the COVID Care Centres is 48. He further informed that 1 covid patients was admitted and 1 patient was discharged from Covid Care Centre Wimberlygunj and a total of 9 patients are still admitted in the Centre, he added.

Responding to a query regarding the chances of people recovering from COVID-19 can be afflicted by black fungus – or mucormycosis – disease, the Deputy Director said orders to procure medicines to treat mucormycosis has been placed and we will receive it very soon. As of now, no cases of mucormycosis has been reported in A&N Islands.