Assam chalks out action plan to tackle surge in COVID-19 cases

The positivity rate increased to 2.74 per cent as on Sunday night.
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GUWAHATI: 

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal chaired a review meeting with senior health and disaster management department officials to prepare an action plan to tackle the surge in COVID-19 cases across the state.

Eight districts of Assam currently have reported over 100 COVID-positive cases, with lower primary schools already shut in the wake of the spike in cases.

State health minister and chief secretary, DGP, along with other police officials were present at the meeting held at the chief minister’s official residence here on Monday.

Principal Secretary of health department Samir Kumar Sinha gave a PowerPoint presentation on the prevailing situation and steps taken so far to contain the spread of coronavirus in the state.

Six deaths were reported in the state on Sunday, while 639 COVID-19 positive cases were detected.

The positivity rate increased to 2.74 per cent as on Sunday night.

The Chief Minister was apprised that the number of hospital beds in every district has been increased in anticipation of rising cases, while Remdesivir, oxygen cylinders, etc have been stocked adequately.

Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) Chief Executive Officer G.D. Tripathi also informed the chief minister about steps taken by the department to manage the situation.

He highlighted the need to impose restrictions in the districts where the number of cases has risen to more than a hundred to prevent mass gatherings. 

Sonowal directed the chief secretary to gear up preparations in each district to fight the pandemic while instructing the director-general of police to strictly maintain COVID-19 protocols and prevent mass gatherings.

The chief minister also laid stress on making the people aware about wearing masks, maintaining cleanliness and asked the concerned departments to ramp up COVID-19 tests at the bus and truck terminuses while making tests of truck drivers coming from outside compulsory at the Srirampur and Chagolia gates.

Key decisions taken in the meeting would be revealed on Tuesday. 

State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma instructed the health department officials to start a helpline for various coronavirus consultations and problems.

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