Assam: MP Kamkhya Prasad Tasa & Dergaon MLA Bhaben Bharali test COVID-19 positive

Guwahati: Rajya Sabha MP Kamkhya Prasad Tasa and Dergaon MLA Bhaben Bharali on Friday became the latest politicians in Assam to test positive for the dreaded coronavirus. 

Kamakhya Prasad Tasa, after testing positive for the novel coronavirus, has been admitted to Jorhat Medical College for treatment. On the other hand, AGP MLA Bhaben Bharali of Dergaon has been admitted to the ICU at the Jorhat Medical College.

Several legislators from Assam have tested positive for the Wuhan-originating virus. Recently, AIUDF MLA Nizamuddin Choudhury and eight members of his family tested positive for COVID-19.

Before this, seven MLAs of BJP and one from Congress were diagnosed with COVID-19.

BJP MLA Mihir Kanti Shome from Udharbond, Deputy Speaker Aminul Haq Laskar from Sonai, and Krishnendu Paul from Patharkandi -- all from the Barak Valley region -- have also tested positive for the dreaded pathogen.

The other BJP MLAs to test positive are Narayan Deka of Borkhetry, Bolin Chetia from Sadiya, Nabanita Handique from Sonari and Atul Bora of Dispur.

Former minister and Congress MLA from Samaguri, Rakibul Hussain, tested positive for COVID-19 along with his wife and nephew on August 2.

Another prominent politician from the state to test positive was All India Mahila Congress president and former Silchar MP Sushmita Dev.

Several senior bureaucrats in the state have also been infected with the virus that causes respiratory problems.

Meanwhile, Assam's cumulative tally has risen to 84,317. Of these, 60,348 patients have recovered, while 213 have died.

Meanwhile, a jump in coronavirus infections on Friday pushed India closer to the 3 million mark, piling pressure on authorities to prevent huge gatherings this weekend as Mumbai celebrates the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.

India on Friday recorded 68,898 cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) disease and 983 deaths in a single day, taking the country's tally past 2.9 million, Union health ministry data showed.

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