Assam corona situation critical: State cases 1,03,794; active 20,992; Death 289

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The government is feeling the pinch of the rising COVID-19 cases in the State, compelling it to think of cutting a few of the freebies it has been offering to the coronavirus patients. This apart, scarcity of oxygen seems imminent for all patients, let alone those suffering from COVID-19 across the State.

Talking to the media here on Saturday, State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "As of now, everything is free for the COVID-19 patients. But, the government is bound to think of charging rentals for the cabins. Of course, both medicines and treatment have to be given free of cost.

"For the present moment, we're giving the dropping facility to the people discharged from the COVID Care Centres. Now, we're thinking of keeping this facility only for those discharged people who need inter-district movement to go home. Food is given free in the COVID Care Centres now. Affluent people can get their home-cooked food. Of course, this is not applicable for the BPL (Below Poverty Line) and poor people.

"Around 21 lakh swab tests for COVID-19 have been conducted in the State, so far. Such tests cost us Rs 2,000 each. Now on, if any COVID-19 patient, admitted in the medical colleges, wants to procure plasma from any private institution, he needs to pay Rs 6,000. If any COVID-19 patient needs RT-PCR test, and if the patient wants the test result within 24 hours, he/she can get it now making a payment of Rs 2,200."

Sarma further said, "The situation in the State is very critical. Even though the discharge rate in Assam is as high as 80 per cent; as of now, 433 patients are in oxygen support, 126 in ICUs (Intensive Care Units) and 707 have been given plasma. The daily requirement of oxygen for COVID and non-COVID patients in the State is 25 MT as against the daily production of 37 MT in the State. If the COVID-positive cases keep rising at this rate, oxygen crisis seems to be imminent in the near future. The Centre has alerted us on this aspect.

"Taking all such fronts into consideration, I keep on appealing to the people of the State to be serious in wearing face-masks and maintaining the social distancing norm. If anybody has fever, he/she needs to go for COVID test. When detected late, COVID-19 risks the life of the patients, besides costing more money."

He added, "Till Friday, the COVID tally in the State was 1,01,367 as against 81,070 discharged. In the past 15 days, the death rate has increased by 0.04 per cent. This is something to worry about. Going by the rising COVID cases, Kamrup (M), Kamrup, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and the Barak Valley have been leading the chart." 

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