Assam to close elementary schools in districts where COVID-19 cases cross 100

GUWAHATI: Assam's incumbent health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today informed that districts where the total number of COVID-19 cases exceed one hundred within ten days (from April 7-16) will be expected to close down the Lower Primary schools (classes up to 5). The decision in this regard will be taken by the Deputy Commissioner of the respective districts.

"The district where total active cases are more than 100, the respective Deputy Commissioners are authorized to take the decision to close LP schools (up to class 5)," said Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma at a presser here, adding, "If there are one hundred cases in the hospitals or there are more than a hundred cases, LP schools can be closed down."

Sarma said that the final decision in this regard shall be taken by the Deputy Commissioners "in view of the Model Code of Conduct."

"Whenever the deputy commissioners witness the number of cases surging beyond one hundred on a daily basis, they can choose to close down the elementary schools," he said.

"The deputy commissioners do not have to ask us -- when they see the number of cases has crossed one hundred -- they will be expected to close down the LP schools."

Also Read: 4 More COVID-19 Deaths Recorded In Assam; 573 Test Positive In 24 Hours

Presently, the districts of Kamrup Metro, Kamrup Rural, Dibrugarh, Nagaon, Jorhat, Tinsukia, Cachar and Sonitpur are having more than 100 active cases, the Minister further added.

Sarma said that the state has around 4,000 active patients at the present moment and the death rate has also remained "constant" at 0.4-0.5%.

"We had two challenges in front of us -- the Assembly elections and Rongali Bihu. Despite the surge in COVID-19, we have able to host both these events quite successfully," the minister mused.

From March 20 onwards, the number of COVID-19 cases has been on the rise, Sarma said, adding that the number of tests has also been ramped up to curb the spread of the contagion.

Assam’s daily COVID-19 cases today surged to 573 taking the state’s cumulative tally to 2,22,940.

On the other hand, the death count climbed to 1,127 with four more fatalities, with Kamrup (Metro), Nagaon, Karimganj, and Lakhimpur recording one death each.

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