25 coronavirus patients in Guwahati do not have travel history: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Guwahati: Assam Finance and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today revealed that as many as 25 Covid-19 positive cases in Guwahati city do not have any travel history.

"Things have taken a slightly dire turn in Guwahati and in the past few days, we have detected 25 positive cases without any travel history. As a result, things have taken a worrying turn in the city", Sarma said in a press briefing.

The Health Minister also said that goods trucks that come in from other places stay in the city 3-4 days and some of the cases can be traced to the loading-unloading areas frequented by the incoming trucks. "Guwahati has 153 godowns. As per the Centre's directive, we cannot quarantine the truck drivers as they bring essential goods. Of these 25 cases without travel history, many are salesmen in shops. After analyzing the 25 cases, we have seen that they have a direct or indirect connection with the loading and unloading zones frequented by good trucks. We will conduct testings in the loading-unloading zones, convert them to quarantine centers. We wish to take samples there", he said.

Sarma also said that the samples would be collected from the loading-unloading zones in other towns such as Tinsukia and Dibrugarh, where a similar regime would be followed.

"A leakage has occurred due to the loading-unloading, according to our estimates", Sarma said, adding that the restaurants and dhabas where the drivers have foodwill also be surveilled for any traces of the contagion.

Meanwhile, over RT-PCR tests have been carried out so far till June 11, Sarma said, adding that this is a "major milestone". Sarma added that by June 30, another 1 lakh more Covid-19 tests will be conducted in Assam.

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