Andaman has 6 ventilators for COVID-19 patients; 14 more to reach soon

Till today evening, there were five active positive cases of COVID-19 in Andaman while 11 other cases reported last month have already turned negative. Total number of COVID19 cases reported till now in Andaman is 16.

All these cases were reported from South Andaman District, while other two districts N&M Andaman and Nicobar Districts are completely free from COVID-19 infection.

Giving details about preparedness, the Directorate of Health Services, Dr. Omkar Singh told UNI that presently DHS has six ventilators ready for severe COVID-19 patients and 14 more ventilators are about to come.

“May be, we will not require the 14 additional ventilators as one must understand that machine does not treat patients. Men behind the Machine are equally important. Unfortunately we have crisis of Anesthetists, we have only four Anesthetists at present. It won’t benefit if we get too many machines and not change enough man-power. We want to treat patient in stage-two itself, so that the patient do not reach to the stage where ventilators are necessary,” Dr. Omkar Singh said.

As case number 12,13,14,15 and 16 came to light unexpectedly from nowhere, it is suspected that many more positive cases might be present in different parts of South Andaman for which massive contact tracing of these cases has began in Andaman.

Andaman’s Health Department is also hoping that once rapid testing kits reach Andaman, tracing out more positive cases will be much easier for the department.

“Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been given slot of 24 April 2020, when, these Kits will be sent to us,” Dr. Singh added.