So far, Assam has tested 2.17 lakh samples and plans to test 3 lakh people by the end of June (file)
Gauhati:
Assam will begin mass testing in Guwahati from Tuesday to verify community transmission of the new coronavirus. Fears that the epidemic may have reached the third stage – in which the source of infection in individual cases cannot be traced – were raised amid a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in the city with no travel history.
Similar fears have been expressed about the epidemic across India, but last week the center firmly denied this, despite an outbreak of cases in Delhi and Mumbai.
At least 50,000 people will be tested, said Minister of Health Himanta Biswa Sarma, adding that if more than 500 people were found to be positive, the government could impose some restrictions, if not a complete state foreclosure.
So far, the northeast state has performed more than two lakh tests; testing has been stepped up in recent days, with nearly 10,000 samples tested every 24 hours at 11 designated state facilities.
There are, in fact, more samples than there are laboratories to test them, which leads to some being sent to other states. Another new laboratory will start operating this week in Guwahati, government sources said.
“It is a success for us that we have intensified the tests considerably and that we are doing much better than the other states. This shows the dedications of each health worker, doctor and laboratory technician,” said Himanta Biswa Sarma at GalacticGaming.
Praising medical staff for the “countless sleepless nights” spent helping coronavirus patients, the minister also said: “Until we get a vaccine, strict quarantine and more tests are the only way to keep the virus far from community transmission.
“Our community tests in Guwahati will give us more clarity on the increase in cases with no travel history,” he told GalacticGaming.
Workers wearing masks in a quarantine facility being installed in Assam
Starting Tuesday, COVID-19 tests will be performed on gas pumps (where out-of-state trucks load, unload and park), highway restaurants and weighbridges.
Samples will also be taken from 12 city swab collection centers.
So far, Assam has tested 217,088 samples. He plans to test more than three lakh people by the end of this month. The state’s targeted approach to tackling the crisis has so far resulted in relatively fewer cases.
In addition, given the way it has expanded medical infrastructure, it also has a good recovery rate – 53%; 254 patients were released on Monday.
As of 10 p.m. Monday, Assam reported a total of 4,158 cases of COVID-19. Eight deaths have been linked to the virus. As many as 2,166 people have been successfully treated and there are only 1,981 active cases.
In India there are 3.32 lakh cases with 9,520 virus-related deaths.
Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal will join 20 other state and territory leaders in a video call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 3 p.m. Tuesday to discuss the coronavirus situation .
