Guwahati has local traces of Coronavirus: Health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma

Guwahati: With the city reporting three COVID-19 positive cases without any travel history, Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Friday that the city has some local traces of the deadly coronavirus. He, however, did not mention if this could mean community transmission has begun.

Three of the four positive cases reported on Thursday are from Guwahati and without any travel history.

Dr Likhitesh DS, who tested positive is a post graduate student at the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital and has been on COVID-19 screening duty since May 4 and has no travel history.

Mrs Boroda Das, another positive case from Guwahati is a housewife without any travel history. She hails from Kharghuli area of the city.

Deepika Nath, the 16 year old girl who died is from Lokhara area of the city and was living with her grandmother, a staff of Dr B Barooah Cancer Institute. She had earlier complained of leg pain and had fever since April 27. She had visited ESI hospital at Beltola area of the city before shifting in with her grandmother.

"GMCH authorities directed that her cremation be done in keeping with those followed for COVID-19 patients and swab samples be taken. It is based on the swab test that we got to know she was a COVID-19 patient," state health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said addressing the media.

He expressed grief that the deceased girl could not receive the kind of treatment she should have.

The fourth person who tested positive, Debraj Acharjee had travelled to Medinapur in Siliguri for work. He hails from Assam's Baihata Chariali. He along with two other people were home quarantined on their return. Now Debraj is being treated at Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital (MMCH) in Guwahati and the two other persons have been quarantined in a separate hospital.

The minister has requested every person to strictly adhere to the social distancing and hygiene norms and immediately contact doctors in case anyone is either suffering from or showing signs of dry cough or diarrhea.

Also read: GMC hostel, B Barooah Cancer Institute declared containment zones

Also watch: Himanta BIswa Sarma visited the Sarusojai stadium as the new headquarters for fight against COVID19