Assam: DC, SP & Journalists in Morigaon Quarantined for "Exposure" to COVID-19 Patients

Marigaon, April 16, 2020:

Hours after detection of two COVID-19 positive cases in Marigaon district of Assam, DC Rituraj Bora and SP Swapnaneel Deka have been sent to quarantine for exposure to the two positive cases.

The Health Department of Assam has also instructed several mediapersons in the district to go into quarantine.

An source informed Inside Northeast that the patients had initially tested negative, but finally tested positive for the virus. "They probably picked up the infection at the hospital where they were quarantined", the source added.

The source further informed that the SP, DC, and the Circle officer of the district had come in contact with the patients. Journalists who had also visited the patients after the Tablighi Jamaat congregation created ripples in the media, have also been quarantined.

It may be mentioned here that the two latest positive cases are both from Morigaon district, and the Government has said that they are the secondary contacts of the Tablighi Jamaat attendees.

Confirming this via Twitter earlier today, Assam Finance and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “Two persons from Morigaon have tested 

It is pertinent to mention here that Northeast India has also reported many cases of the virus. The tally is as follows:

Assam: 34

Meghalaya: 7

Mizoram: 1

Manipur: 2

Nagaland: 1

Tripura: 2

Arunachal Pradesh: 1

The economic impact of the COVID-19 is also being felt in all parts of the world.

The Indian rupee has slipped 34 paise to all-time low of 76.78 against US dollar in early trade. Meanwhile, international giants Google will slow hiring for the rest of the year, Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai told the company’s staff in a memo on Wednesday.

United States President Donald Trump vowed to unveil plans Thursday to reopen the world’s top economy, following cautious moves in Europe, claiming the US had “passed the peak” of new coronavirus cases, although the number of deaths at an all-time high.

ALSO READ: Assam: Gauhati University Cancels Upcoming Summer Vacation in July, 2020

At the same time, Switzerland’s government is due to unveil on Thursday how it plans to relax the country’s shutdown put in place to halt the spread of the new coronavirus epidemic, Swiss media reported. Health Minister Alain Berset will outline a three-stage plan to start a gradual opening of businesses and schools which have been shuttered for a month.

These will be considered major developments as all the countries around the world are strategizing a similar exit, although the spread of the virus has not slowed and the search for a cure continues.

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