COVID scene serious in Upper Assam; State cases 57,714

GUWAHATI: The spread of COVID-19 in Assam is largely uneven – the occurrence of the virus is higher in the Upper Assam districts than those in Lower Assam. However, the situation is being tackled with developed treatments — including plasma therapy and medication with the use of Remdesivir and Itolizumab among others. These are apart from taking preventive measures like lockdown, social distancing and other restrictions.

According to COVID-19 related statistics till Friday, Jorhat tops the list with 2,153 active cases, including 10 deaths in Upper Assam. It is followed by Dibrugarh with 1,996 active cases including 11 deaths; Tinsukia with 1,318 active cases including 14 deaths; and Sivasagar with 42 active cases. However, Charaideo district has only three active COVID-19 cases without any death.

While West Karbi Anglong district has only one active case, South Salmara has three, Majuli has 31 and Baksa has 35. What baffles the State Health department is that the rural areas of Assam are remaining nearly free from the spread of coronavirus. This is despite the fact that the flood-affected rural folks are in challenging situations in maintaining social distancing while staying in the relief camps. Of course, doctors regularly visited them. This is indeed a good sign for the State. Had the virus spread in the rural areas, the situation would have gone beyond control during the recent waves of floods.

The COVID-19 death toll in the State makes the vulnerability of the age groups distinctly clear. Of the 132 death toll in the State, 50.9 per cent are aged over 60 and 34.9 per cent are aged over 40. "This is the reason why we keep appealing to the aged people to stay indoors during this pandemic," an official in the department said.

Besides plasma therapy, Remdesivir has been on use in the State to treat serious COVID-19 patients. Assam has the distinction of being the first State in the country to procure Itolizumab for serious COVID-19 patients.

As many as 93 COVID-19 cured people have donated blood plasma in the State. The State government has launched an App – 'COVID Suraksha' – to monitor the status of each of the home quarantined people in the State.

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