CM reviews COVID situation in Central Assam; advises DCs to keep eye on essentials

NAGAON: Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal today took stock of the COVID situation in Central Assam districts of Nagaon, Hojai and Morigaon, and asked the district administrations to ensure safety and speed in rolling out of the third phase of vaccination drive from May 1.

Reviewing the COVID situation in the state with particular emphasis on the three districts at the Circuit House here, Sonowal asked the deputy commissioners (DCs) to generate total awareness among the people towards vaccinations and tests.

He also asked them to monitor the availability of oxygen in their respective territories. Sonowal also took stock of the available health infrastructure to contain COVID infections in the districts.

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He further pointed out that since large number of people will turn up for the third phase of vaccination from May 1, the DCs must take adequate steps to ensure safety of all.

Stating that while extensive testing will help in identifying infected people, leading to providing medical intervention, doses of vaccines will shield the people in general from the potential threat of the virus.

He, therefore, asked the DCs to chalk out a roadmap and identify the areas where there are more infected people to organise testing as well as vaccination drives in their respective districts. Sonowal also stressed on home isolation of the COVID positive cases and maintain a constant surveillance on them to determine the need of immediate medical attention.

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Moreover, Sonowal said in view of the mutation of the virus and susceptibility of the people to the infection, people should adhere to COVID appropriate behaviour. He, therefore, asked the DCs to take the help of all stakeholders involved in fighting against the pandemic, including popular personalities to generate awareness among the public.

He also asked the DCs and joint directors of health to take adequate steps for testing facilities for the truck drivers from other states coming to their districts.

Besides, Sonowal reviewed the steps taken by the food, civil supplies and consumer affairs department to ensure adequate supply of essential commodities in the districts. He also asked the DCs to carry out inspections by authorised functionaries to stop any designs of hoarding. He directed them to check any vested steps of price rise.

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State water resources minister Keshab Mahanta, minister of state for health and family welfare Pijush Hazarika, Nagaon DC Kavita Padmanabhan, Hojai DC Sadnek Singh, Morigaon DC Simarekha Bhuyan, superintendents of police, joint directors of health and other senior officials of the government were present during the meeting.