Double-mutant variant detected in Dibrugarh, says Himanta Biswa Sarma

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: With the detection of the double-mutant COVID-19 virus in Dibrugarh, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has sounded a red alert in the State.

Sharing this information with media after an all-party meeting on the COVID-19 situation in the State on Thursday, Minister Sarma said, "Double-mutant COVID-19 variant has been detected in an air passenger at Dibrugarh airport. We need to be very alert now. The double-mutant COVID-19 variant is a dangerous one. Its infection rate is high. It can enter a healthy body and defeat its strong immunity system.

"We appeal to all to be very alert. All should follow the COVID-19 protocols. And remaining alert is the only alternative we're left with.

"As of now, we've oxygen, ICU (Intensive Care Unit) beds, and medicines. However, each of these three may be scarce in the State if COVID positive cases keep on rising at this pace. We're admitting all COVID-19 positive people in hospital beds at ease now. However, if we don't follow COVID-appropriate behaviour we may not be able to provide hospital beds to patients at a certain time.

"We started the COVID treatment centre at Sarusajai here from today. We're also erecting a similar centre at Khanapara in the city.

"We feel relieved on the fall in the arrival of air passengers in the State when compared to what it was a week back. In sync with the fall in the arrival of air passengers in the State, the number of COVID-19 positive cases in Kamrup (M) district has also come down slightly. We keep on modifying the SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) based on the COVID-19 situation."

In the past ten days, Kamrup (M) district had 4,242 COVID-19 positive cases, 707 in Kamrup, 659 in Dibrugarh, 425 in Sonitpur, 430 in Nagaon etc. On April 10, the COVID-19 positive rate in the State was 0.59 per cent that rose to 2.63 per cent on April 22, 2021.

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