House-to-house testing for COVID-19 in Guwahati from today

*Process to start from Pandu *Target: 3,000 tests in two days *Vulnerable wards to be covered in first phase *Other city areas to be covered subsequently

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Ward-wise mass testing in the capital city will be conducted from Tuesday onwards in a bid to gauge community transmission of coronavirus here. Informing this via tweet in the afternoon, State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "In a first of its kind initiative on mass testing in Assam, the Health department shall carry out house-to-house COVID-19 test in Ward 2 (Pandu area) of Guwahati Municipality starting Tuesday (July 7). We target to complete 3,000 tests in the Ward in two days."

Addressing the media later in the evening, Minister Sarma added, "The decision has been taken as the Pandu area was recently identified as corona hotbed. After finishing the mass testing process at the there, we will proceed to the other wards one by one. In the first phase, all the vulnerable wards of the city will be covered. We request the city residents to cooperate with the Health personnel in this regard."

On the preparations to accommodate the COVID-affected people, he said, "There is no scarcity of beds for such patients in Guwahati now. Extra COVID Care Centres have been set up in the premises of IIT-Guwahati, Havells Building, Maniram Dewan Trade Centre, and MSME Hostel in Amingaon. We do have some shortage of manpower. The extra human resources will be filled up from outside the city."

After visiting the Mirza-based Patanjali Yogpeeth which has been already converted into a COVID Care Centre, Minister Sarma said, "Some of the 250 corona-affected patients have been released after they were cured. This hospital is now equipped with Rapid Antigen Test kits so that regular and fast testing can be carried out."

He also inspected the Khanapara COVID Care Centre; and took feedback from the Health personnel on further support that they are looking forward to.

Also Watch: #NewsMakers: Discourse on Saving Dehing-Patkai