Port Blair, May 22: Considering the surge in COVID-19 cases in Andaman and Nicobar Islands the District Magistrate of South Andaman District has ordered lockdown in the entire district of South Andaman region.
Accordingly, lockdown will be imposed in the entire District of South Andaman with effect from 24.05.2021, Monday. However, it has not been mentioned in the Lockdown order how long this lockdown will be ordered.
As per the lockdown order, shops selling items such as Provision Stores, Vegetable Shops, Shops dealing with food, groceries, fruits, dairy and milk booth/ shop, meat, animal feed/ fodder, bakeries shall be allowed to open between 6.00 am to 8.00 am by observing COVID appropriate behaviours.
Home delivery of items should be encouraged and promoted. Movement of bare minimum personnel attached with such organisations shall be allowed for which valid e-passes shall be issued by the Office of the District Magistrate based on the certification from the concerned organization.
Home Delivery and Movement of persons of the above mentioned services shall also be allowed between 9.00 am to 6.00 pm. No movement of men and material other than the rime fixed for opening of shops between 6.00 am to 8.00 am shall be allowed except for persons having valid movement/ e-passes issued by the Officer of the District Magistrate.
Movement shall be allowed for emergency cases, medical emergencies, pregnant women and patients availing medical services.
Clinical establishments, Chemists and Pharmacy shops shall be allowed to open with movement of bare minimum personnel attached with such organisations for which valid e-passes shall be issued by the Office of the District Magistrate.
Persons engaged for essential activities for movement of goods on Andaman Trunk Road, loading and unloading of essential cargo shall be allowed on production of valid movement passes issued by the Office of the District Magistrate.
Travel of persons shall be allowed to proceed to their destinations at mainland on production of valid travel documents.
Movement of officers/ officials involved in providing essential services such as District Administration, Police, CISF, Health Services, ICMR, PBMC, Home Guards, Civil Defence, Fire and emergency services, Defence personnel on duty shall be permitted on production of valid Identity Cards issued by the concerned departments.
Movement of bare minimum number of Officers/ Officials, certified by the Head of Department, involved in providing essential and emergency services such as Pay & Account, Shipping Services, Forest, Banking, Electricity, Water Supply & Sanitation in Rural Areas, Disaster Management, Port Services and related services, Telecommunication, Courts as per order of High Court and E-commerce activities shall be permitted on production of valid movement passes issued by the Office of District Magistrate.
Persons going for COVID vaccination shall be permitted subject to production of acknowledgement slip/ SMS.
Movement of bare minimum personnel involved in providing Broadcasting and Cable Services, Internet Service Providers, all Print and Electronic media persons, Private Security Guards, POL Outlets, LPG Stores/ Godown, ATMs, Cold Storage and warehouses shall be allowed for which valid e-passes shall be issued by the Office of District Magistrate based on the certification from the concerned organization.
All POL Outlets shall be opened from 6.00 am to 1.00 pm.
Movement of bare minimum private medical personnel such as Doctors, Nursing Staff, Paramedics etc. attached with diagnostic centres and clinics, veterinary clinis shall be allowed for which valid e-passes shall be issued by the Office of District Magistrate based on the certification from the concerned organization.
Movement of persons from containment zones shall be strictly restricted and shall only be permitted on case to case basis upon approval from the Office of District Magistrate.
Movement of persons involved with Hotels/ Restaurants and Mess to be certified by the firm/ organization for home delivery of food shall be allowed between 8.00 am to 8.00 pm for which valid e-passes shall be issued by the Office of District Magistrate based on the certification from the concerned organization.
Insiders in Administration told that initially the Lockdown will be for seven days however it may be extended if the number of cases do not come down.