Coronavirus would have infected 8 cr people without lockdown: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Guwahati: By August 15, as many as eight crore people would have got infected by the deadly corona virus if the government had not put lockdown measures in place and was not strictly implemented.

State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that it is the strict implementation of lockdown that has gone a long way in keeping the number of cases low.

August 15 would be the peak point for COVID in the country, the minister said.

On the issue of stranded people like migrant labour's, employees, students and patients coming back to the state, the minister said an estimated six Lakh people are expected to come back and each of them would be tested as they return home and as per requirement they would be home quarantined, isolated or taken to hospitals

The minister said that the Assam Care help line number set up to help those stranded outside Assam has received as many as 6.80 lakh calls.

The government was planning to bring back 95 cancer patients from Mumbai by an AirAsia flight but when tests were conducted, two patients were found positive. The plan has now been abandoned.

In some good news, the minister added that 50,000 new government jobs are being planned this year.

The state already has 440 ICUs and 330 ventilators. Another 100 each would be added for COVID cases, the minister added.

Total reported cases in Assam stands at 43. But the number of active cases is only nine, 32 have recovered. One has passed away.

6.28 lakh people have registered for financial assistance.