Assam records 1,216 COVID positive cases; Focus on strict home quarantine

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The rising trend of COVID-19 cases continues in Assam with 159 persons testing positive on Saturday. The State has recorded 1,216 positive cases till the filing of the report.

Sources said around 70,000 people are currently in institutional and home quarantine. With the fast rise in COVID positive cases, the Health department and the administration have focused on strict quarantine of those who have returned to the State from outside and those who come in contact with persons infected by the virus.

"We have to be ruthless in implementing quarantine to prevent spread of coronavirus at the community level in the State. Once there is community transmission of the virus, it will spell a disaster for the State. There have been incidents of people running away from quarantine facilities and not coming forward for testing of swabs. Since there are space constraints in institutional quarantine facilities, the government has laid emphasis on strict home quarantine," the source said.

In case of home quarantine, the State Government has made the exercise mandatory for all members of a family.

Health & Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said the State will have a tough time till June 15 as more people stranded in different parts of the country will return to the State. He, however, said all positive cases are now being reported from quarantine centres and there is no spreading of the virus at the community level. 

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