Assam COVID-19: Adequate Stock of PPE Kits & N95 Masks Available, Says Health Minister

Guwahati, April 10, 2020:

Assam Medical Colleges have been provided with adequate quantities of PPE kits. 50,000 kits will be arriving in the State in next three days

From declaring a new hotbed of the coronavirus infection to announcing the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits available in the State, Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday gave a detailed account on the current status of the State’s COVID-19 condition.

The Health Minister informed that Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits have been sent to the medical colleges in the State.

“Gauhati Medical College has 2,000 kits, Dibrugarh Medical has 1,000, Jorhat Medical, Barpeta Medical, Silchar Medical College, Tezpur Medical College have 1,000 PPE kits each. Guwahati’s Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital has 500 kits.

The Assam Health Minister assured that PPE kits and N95 masks are available in the State. He also informed that one lakh rapid test kits will be brought to the State and in the next three days, 50,000 kits of PPE will arrive in the State.

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It may be mentioned here that Congress leader Ripun Bora had tweeted about Assam’s lack of PPE kits. In response to the tweet, Sarma said, “Our bulletin says stock in hand with NHM. We don’t show what is there in the hospitals. PPE Kits, N95 masks are available with us. We will get additional stock soon. I request Ripun Bora to refrain from doing politics at this stage. We are in the trying times. If he has confusion, he can consult with me or Pijush Hazarika. This is not the time for politics.”

Financial Assistance for Patients Stuck Outside

The State has announced that the Government will provide financial assistance to the ones who had traveled to other States for treatment of medical ailments such as cancer, heart disease and kidney transplant and are now stuck outside Assam due to lockdown.

“Many people who were suffering from cancer, kidney problem or heart surgery, they are unable to return home due to the lockdown. I discussed with Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and we have now decided to provide financial assistance to them,” said the Health Minister.

Sarma has urged the ones stuck outside with medical cases to contact a helpline number - 0361-2558955 and provide the details of the hospitals and treatment. “After calling in the landline number, share the bank details in this WhatsApp number – 6901281862,” he said.

Athgaon Kabristan Masjid, New Hotbed of Infection

The Athgaon Masjid in Guwahati shall be turned into a containment zone after three people from the state who tested positive for the COVID-19 had links to the location.

Sarma said, “Faizul, Jamaaluddin and Rohiuddin. These three cases established a fact that they had spent the night of March 12 at the Athgaon Masjid. Initially, we had not received adequate information. However, yesterday, we got the information from three districts. Dhubri administration said that Rohiuddin and Jamaaluddin were in contact with each other. The link is the Athgaon Kabristan Masjid.”

Sarma told the media that although it was not earlier established that all three of the patients had visited the mosque, it was later ascertained that they all had spent time there in the recent past. “They did not tell us in the beginning that a meeting was also held at the Masjid. Today, the police investigated and informed us that on 12th, 100 people had gathered for an event. The event was attended by some locals and Markaz attendees. And among these were the three. Two Dhubri patients and the Karimganj man.”

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The Minister also claimed that the Athgaon Masjid in Guwahati is gradually turning into a “hotbed” and said that it will soon be converted into a containment zone like the high-end Spanish Garden apartment that was sealed off after a businessman aged 52 tested positive for the virus.

“From today onwards, we declare the Masjid as a containment zone. Nobody will be allowed to enter or exit the masjid. If someone like caretakers are there, the district administration will provide them with food inside the masjid premises. They will also be able to conduct the religious duties from within the Masjid grounds”, Sarma further added.

The Health Minister also extended his condolences to the family of the COVID-19 patient who died in the early hours of Friday.

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