Assam News

Amid Surging COVID Cases in Assam, Health Minister Holds Meeting with Heads of Medical Colleges

Sentinel Digital Desk

Guwahati- The Health Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma Sunday held a virtual conference meeting with various Principals and Superintendents of the Medical Colleges to discuss the ongoing coronavirus situation in the state. In the meeting, issues pertaining to the adequate measures to curb the coronavirus had been extensively discussed, and the ways to need to scale up preparedness as a response to the ongoing crisis were also highlighted. Himanta in his tweet remarked that with the collective experience of handling the pandemic last year, the state is well equipped and prepared to combat the deadly infectious disease. 

"Along with health officials, I held a VC with Principals & Superintendents of Medical Colleges to discuss the current situation and need to scale up our preparedness. With our collective experience of handling the pandemic last year, we're better equipped & ready," tweeted the Health minister. 

Earlier, keeping in mind the massive spike in the cases of the novel coronavirus, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that in the districts which reported more than 100 cases of the novel coronavirus, all primary schools and classes will remain suspended until further notice is issued by the ministry. 

The Assam government is set to issue fresh new guidelines on Tuesday to combat against the second wave of the novel coronavirus. Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma held a review meeting on Monday with the officials of the health department, disaster management, police along other concerned officials to discuss the COVID-19 crisis in the state. 

Meanwhile, Assam on Monday saw the biggest surge in the cases of the novel coronavirus with 1,367 fresh infections. Seven deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours. The districts which reported the freshest new cases are Kamrup Metro with a staggering 482 cases followed by Dibrugarh at 109, Kamrup Rural at 106, and Sonitpur at 67. With a positivity rate of 2.09%, the total active cases in the state now amount to 6,316 cases.

As of Monday, India recorded more than 2.59 Lakh fresh new cases of the novel coronavirus taking the tally of the caseloads to more than 1.53 crores. In the last 24 hours, India reported 1,761 new fatalities, marking it the biggest spike in the numbers of COVID fatalities recorded in a single day taking the death toll of the country which now stands at 1,80,530.