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| Lakshadweep tackles COVID-19 situation with slew of measures | | |
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, June 21: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lakshadweep islands had highly restricted movement of men and material from the mainland to the islands and vice versa from March to December 2020. Livelihood activities such as tourism, operation of mechanized sailing vessels and fish collection boats as well as construction activities were not allowed during this phase.
The Lakshadweep Administration decided to open up the economy with a revised Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) which came into force w.e.f. 28th December, 2020 considering the genuine requirement of the local population in terms of livelihood activities, developmental requirements of the Administration and the prevailing MHA Guidelines during that time. As per the revised protocol, anyone who desires to come to the islands shall carry a negative test report of RT-PCR obtained 48 hours before the travel.
Thereafter, some people filed a petition in the High Court of Kerala against the decision of the Administration. However a Division Bench of the High Court of the Kerala as presided by the Chief Justice upheld the SOP as issued by the Lakshadweep Administration w.e.f. 28th December, 2020.
First COVID-19 positive case in Lakshadweep was reported only on 18th January, 2021 at Kavaratti island. As on 5th April, 2021, Lakshadweep had only 31 active cases in the islands. In fact most of the cases in Lakshadweep came up during second wave (May) which was the case all throughout the country and not immediately after the implementation of the revised SOP which was notified in December, 2020.
Meantime, the Government of India had provided 46,830 doses of COVISHIELD vaccine in the month of January. During the holy month of Ramadan, when people were hesitant to receive vaccine during day time, the healthcare and frontline workers of Lakshadweep Administration worked during night time in order to safeguard and protect its citizens from the pandemic. As a result of such continuous efforts, 80.78% of the eligible population is vaccinated as on 17th June, 2021. Lakshadweep Administration is also getting prepared for the third wave of pandemic if any that strikes in future and for any increase in the COVID19 cases in the islands. |
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