4 categories of persons exempted from COVID-19 tests in Assam; Check the details here

Guwahati: Assam's Finance, Health, and Education Minister today announced a new set of Stanard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in relation to COVID-19 tests in Assam. The Minister announced that henceforth, 4 categories of persons will be exempted from COVID-19 tests.

Addressing the press in Guwahati, Sarma said that for incoming passengers to Assam, an RT-PCR COVID-19 test done within 72 hours will suffice. "They should get themselves tested at the point of origin. This will apply to the air passengers as well as the train passengers," Sarma said.

Again, for people from Assam who go outside the state and return overnight (within 24 hours), a COVID-19 test will not be mandatory.

The Minister also announced that children below 10 years of age shall not have to mandatorily undergo COVID-19 tests and "it will be completely upto the parental consent."

Sarma said that this decision has been taken as minors feel a lot of discomfort while nasal swabs are collected from them for COVID-19 tests. "The testing shall not be mandatory for them. However, if the parents still wish to get their children tested, they are free to do so."

Also Read: Assam Govt issues SOPs for reopening of schools; Check the details here

Sarma also said that the persons coming to Assam on diplomatic missions and for covert operations shall not have to be tested for COVID-19. "There are many people who do not want their identities to be revealed. They will simply inform the Deputy Commissioners of the districts they are arriving in, show their ID badge, and they will be exempted from testing." Sarma said.

Sarma said that although there were apprehensions that the infections would skyrocket after Durga Puja, the COVID-19 positivity rate has lingered around 2%.

The number of cumulative active cases has also come down in Assam. "At point, the number of active cases soared above 36,000, but now, the number of active cases will now dive below 10,000. The recovery rate has also risen to 95%," said Sarma.

COVID-19 Cases in Assam:

Assam on Friday reported 380 new COVID-19 cases, taking the state’s overall tally to 2,06,015. These cases were detected from a total of 25,672 tests conducted in the state in the last 24 hours. he positivity rate of Assam on Friday was 1.48 per cent.

Meanwhile, 1094 patients were discharged from various COVID-19 hospitals and care centres of Assam on Friday. Assam now has a recovery rate of 94.49 per cent and the active cases rate in Assam now stand at 5,05 per cent and the death percentage at 0.45 per cent.

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