Assam's battle against COVID so far successful: Himanta Biswa Sarma

More lockdown restrictions to be lifted fast,

guidelines on Monday

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Assam has so far conducted 1 lakh COVID-16 tests. The State is all set to increase this number up to 2 lakh by June 15. The Health department has also been able to mobilize various resources and create more facilities to conduct 10,000 such tests daily for the fast detection of COVID positive patients; and thereby draw strategies to prevent spreading of the virus at the community level. Meanwhile, the total corona cases in the State rose to 1,339 with 1,147 active cases as on Sunday. While 185 patients recovered, four died so far.

Terming the development as one of the milestones in the State's fight against the dangerous outbreak of coronavirus, Health & Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said Assam has even defeated Kerala considered as the role model in effectively managing COVID, in terms of conducting tests. He said that conducting such a huge number of tests within May was not an easy task. But doctors of Microbiology departments of different medical colleges and hospitals, lab technicians of the Regional Medical Research Centre at Lahowal in Dibrugarh and a few private labs braved all risks to successfully conduct the tests.

Addressing a press conference at NHM office here on Sunday evening, the Health Minister further said when his department started the battle against COVID in March, it initially did not have much idea as how to go ahead. He, however, asserted that after completing 90 days of the battle, the Health Department is now quite confident of tackling the COVID outbreak effectively.

Sarma said that even though there has been a sharp rise in the number of positive cases, there has been no spreading of coronavirus at the community or society level. He also said that the majority of positive cases have been detected at various quarantine facilities; and the State Government has so far been able to quarantine 2.30 lakh people.

"Barring a few cases of aberration, the Health department is successful in making people strictly adhere to the quarantine rules — both at the government created facilities and home. Since many people (nearly one lakh) will return to the State till June 15, there is every possibility of a sharp rise in the number of COVID positives cases in the days to come. But the people should not panic as the government will not allow these people to go to their homes and villages without undergoing quarantine. People coming from the worst-affected States namely Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Delhi will have to undergo ruthless quarantine. I once again appeal to the people to make quarantine a hugely successful exercise as it is the only way to prevent the spread of COVID in the society. Till now, I can assure that the people need not worry," Sarma said.

The Minister added that since the State will soon be able to conduct 10,000 COVID tests soon, the Health department is planning to reduce the number of days at institutional quarantine from seven to four days. Reduction in the number of days of institutional quarantine will also save public money, he said, adding that tests reports of those staying at the institutional quarantine will be ready within 72 hours within a very short time.

"We are now focusing on strict home quarantine. Home quarantine has already been successful at many villages which is a very encouraging sign for the battle against COVID. The State is now capable and equipped to treat 4232 COVID patients at a time at different medical colleges & hospitals and district hospitals. We have also created 957 & 500 ventilation and ICU facilities," he said.

With reference to the creation of adequate treatment facilities, Sarma said that the Health department has decided to keep only the highly symptomatic and critical patients in six medical colleges and hospitals; vulnerable patients such as pregnant women and elderly persons in the district hospitals and the non-symptomatic patients at the 50 model hospitals (being activated in villages).

According to Sarma, 185 COVID positive patients have recovered and the recovery rate will increase in the coming week. The State has so far recorded 1272 COVID positive cases. Out of the total infected patients 185 have been discharged from different hospitals after they recovered. At present, 1,080 patients are undergoing treatment and the mortality rate is only 0.32 per cent.

Sarma expressed the hope that since the COVID situation in the State is very much under control, the government is going for lifting many more lockdown restrictions. "The State cannot be COVID-centric now. We have to tackle floods, declare results of important examinations like HSLC, conduct admissions in colleges and universities. Educational institutions to reopen in phased manner. Restrictions will now be imposed only in containment zones. We will issue the guidelines for the fifth phase of lockdown on Monday," he said.