Number of tests in Assam to reach “2 lakh by June 15”; to use Model and District hospitals to cure COVID patients

The number of COVID tests conducted in Assam crossed 1 lakh mark today, “We have crossed a milestone,” said Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Adding, “We are adding a couple of labs and before June 15, we will cross the 2 lakh-test mark.”

The health minister said this is a huge achievement, “We could only achieve this because of teamwork. Assam has set a benchmark of efficient public service for the rest of the country to follow,” the health minister asserted.

Sharing details about the COVID patients in the state, Sarma said we have crossed the 1200 mark, however, he added that most of them have travelled from outside the state. “36 patients are directly related to the Tablighi Jamat and then we got 32 more who came in contact with the Jamatis. After that, we have got 312 from Maharashtra, 333 from Tamil Nadu, 134 from Delhi, 57 from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh each among many others. Only 24 patients from the state tested positive rest are all homecoming from various states,” added Sarma.

He informed that 2,39,839 residents travelled to Assam from all around the country and expressed his gratitude towards the deputy commissioners of the respective districts for ensuring they are screening and placing each and every individual under quarantine.

Going forward, as the State enters Unlock 1.0, Sarma said Assam will use Model Hospitals and District Hospitals to cure COVID patients. “We will use Model hospitals for asymptomatic patients, District Hospitals for the senior citizens and vulnerable category and highly symptomatic/critical patients in Medical College and Hospitals,” added Sarma.

In the days ahead, the state intends to reduce the tenure of institutional quarantine to four days. Sarma said as the state ramps up testing capacity it will be able to test up to 10,000 samples every day. “Once we manage to achieve that which I think will take a few more days, we will be able to get the reports sooner. So, there is no point keeping them under institutional quarantine, if we manage to send them home early it will reduce the financial stress on the state too. As we are aware, the cost of living and fooding is borne by the government,” explained Sarma.

Assam, according to Sarma is prepared to accommodate and treat 5,000 COVID patients. However, the health minister also added that COVID is not the only thing that the government is thinking about. “There is no Corona in the community, so, Assam’s intention is to gradually head back towards normalcy,” Sarma concluded.