Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 22 April 2021
Great Nicobar is one of the remotest places in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Island is also the farthest from Port Blair and has a considerable population. Great Nicobar has two Primary Health Centres and a network of Sub Centres which caters to the health needs of the citizens.
Few COVID-19 cases were detected in Great Nicobar during the last considerable surge in the cases in the whole of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The news of the detection of COVID-19 cases in the Island during the last surge created fear and a sense of insecurity in the residents.
Great Nicobar also witnessed one death due to COVID-19 during the last surge.
COVID-19 cases in Andaman and Nicobar Islands especially in South Andaman District is surging again along with the rest of the country. No cases of COVID-19 have been detected in Nicobar District during the recent surge but the residents of Great Nicobar do not want to take any chances.
Several residents, Ex-PRI Members and prominent citizens of Great Nicobar spoke to Nicobar Times and demanded that the local administration should take immediate measures to ensure that Great Nicobar remains COVID-19 free during the current surge.
Many of these residents are of the view that mandatory Rapid Antigen Test on arrival and compulsory quarantine for 07 days for the incoming passengers should be introduced and strictly enforced for Great Nicobar.
E S Rajesh, District President, Bharatiya Janata Party, Andaman and Nicobar Islands also wrote a letter recently to the Deputy Commissioner of Nicobar District requesting him to make Rapid Antigen Test and Home Quarantine for seven days mandatory for passengers arriving by both ships and helicopters in the district.
The health care facilities in Great Nicobar are good to help people with minor ailments, the administration has also ensured that the COVID-19 cases can be tackled at the local level, but its always better to take precautions.
Nicobar Times also spoke to the Assistant Commissioner (In-Charge) of the Campbell Bay, Great Nicobar and she informed us that they have not received any order as of now for both mandatory quarantine of incoming passengers as well as for mandatory Rapid Antigen Test on arrival in the Great Nicobar.
North and Middle Andaman District has issued orders for 7 days mandatory home quarantine of incoming passengers in the District, which will surely help the district in containing the spread of the virus.
It is important that such orders should also be implemented for Nicobar District with no exemption even to the Govt. Employees so that the spread of COVID-19 in the District can be avoided.