Assam: 'Lockdown has not given desired results so far', says HBS

Assam reported another spike of 1088 COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours taking the state’s total to 19,754, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed. Out of 19,754 total confirmed COVID-19 cases, 6,815 are active and 12,888 have been cured and discharged so far while the death toll has gone up to 48.

As such Himanta Biswa Sharma while speaking to the press took stock of the situation. "COVID19 situation has turned into irreparable to an extend. It's not getting better for now and the cases toll will reach 20,000 by today".

He then extended further and said that "the doubling figure has lessened but lockdown expectations have not met so far". As such, the Assam government is preparing to ramp up testing in Guwahati with up to 3 lakh units. "When Guwahati will be unlocked, after that government officials and the business establishment will undergo testing so that we can improve the situation until August".

The Assam government has also necessitated telemedicine in the Guwahati city in the coming times to control the spread and easy access from home for its citizens.

Treatment and testing

HBS stated that there is "25 death in Kamrup (M) along, the highest deaths among all the districts. Initially, it was thought COVID was not that infectious but now things have changed". As such the state govt has started aggressive treatment. The first line is oxygen therapy followed by medicines - dexamethasone (steroids) and remdesivir (antiviral drug). Remdesivir was given to more than 65, out of which 36 people have recovered and 4 have died.

Also read: Assam reports another spike of 1088 COVID-19 cases, death toll rises to 48

The Assam govt is also trying to procure 2 new medicines given by the drug bureau and has forwarded another line of treatment to fight COVID-19, which is Plasma. HBS maintains that "other treatments have a negative impact but not Plasma". "If given to Moderate state, 90% will come back from growing sick", said HBS. "The fight against COVID will get simpler if recovered patients start donating plasma" he further states. The Assam Govt will provide a Plasma Donor Certificate, a Personally-named letter by the Health Minister. These certificates will help to provide benefits in several State or Central Government Schemes.

The Guwahati metro has 10 lakh+ people and the target is to test 3 lakh people. So far 1.1 lakh have been tested.

Assam will reach 6 lakh test milestone. The tests per million is 17,000+ and only Delhi, AP, TN is above the state (NE states not considered). The Rapid Antigen Test, which has been ongoing in Guwahati will now be ongoing for the rest of the state.

Important statistics: Assam

The recover rate in Assam is almost 65% and only Gujarat, Delhi and Tamil Nadu have more than the state. Another important statistic is that it took 4 months to reach almost 20,000 cases. However, the last 12,000 came for the last 30 days. About 700 cases and at times up to 750 cases have been discharged per day.

The testing capacity has increased after the Antigen Rapid Test introduction and 3 more new labs will be set up in B Baruah Cancer Institute, Sonapur Civil Hospital and GMC Cancer Hospital area along with new ones in JMCH and Barpeta. Another one is set to begin in Ayurvedic college with a private public-partnership taking the total labs tally to 19.

As for home isolation, 9 people have taken so far home isolation. Along with the maintaining norms given by the SOP, continuous communication with a private doctor is also necessary.

The Assam Government has taken certain resolutions

To stop nursing homes to become COVID hotspot, all nursing homes will have to install COVID machine, which is called truenat.

The SOP for rail and train passengers is the first antigen test and then sent back to home, after that will be called back after RT-PCR test finds them positive

Death audit board will audit the deaths to check whether death is COVID or non-COVID

Kamrup metro facility of testing has been forwarded to other airports now

Other concerns

The Health Minister summed up saying, "some are protesting of not getting food, but in other states, they have to buy their own food. Now, special food will be given for diabetes and people can go to Pvt nursing home if they want speacial care".

He also raised the issue that the centre has cut devolution grant owing to lack of tax collection. Post devolution revenue deficit grants: About a third of the total revenue collected by the Centre is directly transferred to states as their share in the divisible pool.

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