Coronavirus Outbreak: Exams cancelled, 50% govt officials to work from home in Assam

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GUWAHATI | MARCH 21, 2020:

Amid coronavirus outbreak, Assam government has cancelled all the examination in the state till March 31 and has also directed 50 per cent government employees to work from home as a measure to help stop the spread of the virus.

Assam Finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said that the state government has taken preventive measures to keep a check on the novel coronavirus outbreak.

He said that all examinations in the state have been cancelled till March 31. Apart from this, 50 per cent employees of the government departments will work from home on a rotation basis from March 21. This rotational system will be continued till March 31. But the employees of the essential services including health, fire brigade, police etc, will have to continue their duties regularly. There will be no leave for the employees of health department including ministers.

Himanta Biswa Sarma further said that the state government has also decided to shut all crowded areas in the state in the next 48 hours to stop mass gatherings.

The minister also added that screening processes are also being conducted at all airports, railway stations, land ports and other places in the state. Hand-stamping process at airports, railway stations and other places for the people who will come to the state from outside from March 22, he said.

Himanta Biswa Sarma added, "No positive case has been reported so far in the state. From today onwards, we have issued certain instructions for social distancing. We have already sent recommendation to the State Election Commission to take appropriate decision for Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) election in view of coronavirus. Every commercial shop and business establishment should have hand washing facilities."

Himanta Biswa Sarma also said that the Assam government decided to provide $2,000 assistance people stuck abroad due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

He said that those who have gone abroad in the last 30 days for a short duration and are now stuck in a foreign country and are unable to come back immediately will get $2,000 from the Assam government.

Sarma said "This assistance will be for those who have travelled abroad in last 30 days. We will be notifying an email id tomorrow where these people have to give their passport stampings to show their travel time."

"So many students from Assam have now been stuck in various countries. We will transfer $2,000 to them each. For that, the state government has opened a separate e-mail ID. Our people are working day and night and we will do everything to see that coronavirus doesn't spread in our state," Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

Around 79,000 people have been screened at all the airports, railway stations and other places in Assam including 16,508 passengers at airports.

Himanta Biswa Sarma said that a total of 1,003 people are under home quarantine.

On the other hand, 41 people are in isolation wards at various government run hospitals in Assam.

A total of 57 samples have been tested and all were reported to be negative.