421 persons donate plasma till August 23; Case-doubling time improving

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The two positive developments with respect to the coronavirus scene in Assam are that while there has been a good response to donate plasma, the 'doubling time' of the COVID-19 cases is also gradually increasing.

Plasma is donated only by the cured COVID-19 patients who were earlier found to be symptomatic. The 'doubling time' refers to the rate at which the coronavirus cases double on a day-wise basis.

According to National Health Mission, Assam, 421 persons have already donated their plasma till August 23, 2020. Of them, while 319 donated in Gauhati Medical College & Hospital (GMCH); 32 each in Tezpur Medical College & Hospital (TMCH) and Silchar Medical College & Hospital (SMCH); 25 in Jorhat Medical College & Hospital (JMCH); 13 in Assam Medical College & Hospital (AMCH), Dibrugarh.

Till August 23, 2020, a total of 19,72,239 COVID-19 tests of Assam have been conducted.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted, "Slowly doubling time of positive cases is increasing. Surely it is a positive indication. Now, it's 20 days."

The first COVID-19 case was detected in Assam on March 31, 2020. After a gap of 69 days, the cases rose to 2,835 on June 8. The 'doubling time' of 5,853 cases was recorded after 14 days (June 22); 11,736 cases after 13 days (July 5); 22,981 again after 13 days (July 18); 45,275 cases after 16 days (August 3); and 90,740 cases after a gap of 20 days (August 23), added the Minister.

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