Assam has surpassed Kerala in number of Covid tests conducted: Himanta Biswa Sarma
Sarma tweeted, “In a strong testimony to excellent team work and our steely resolve to do the best in a crisis like #COVID19, I am humbled to share that #Assam has carried out 55862 tests so far. This is higher than Kerala's (52771), a state known for its healthcare excellence”.
by Bikash Singh
GUWAHATI: Assam health minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that the state surpassed Kerala as far as testing for COVID-19 is concerned.
Assam, which is doing 2,500 tests per day, has planned to ramp it up to 5,000 test per day in another seven days.
Assam has stated that it will do ruthless quarantine of passengers coming from flight from May 25 or the allthe hard work of last two months will go in vain. Government will not allow Assam to be contaminated by COVID.
Sarma tweeted, “In a strong testimony to excellent team work and our steely resolve to do the best in a crisis like #COVID19, I am humbled to share that #Assam has carried out 55862 tests so far. This is higher than Kerala's (52771), a state known for its healthcare excellence”.
Talking to media persons on Sunday, Sarma said, “ Though we have witnessed spike in the number of cases in last seven following the coming of people from outside, Assam has ramped up testing. Following spike in the number of cases our recovery rate has come to 16.19 percent while the all India percentage is 41 percent, we have ramped up testing facility. We are testing 2500 per day.”
He added, “Till today we have done 59,553 tests. We will scale the testing to 5,000 in next seven days. Automatic extraction we are doing in Tezpur Medical College. We have polled in facilities from different places to ramp up the testing.”
“Kerala was model for everybody, It was pleasant surprise this morning when I saw a tweet of Kerala chief minister, Pinarayi Vijayan where he said they have done 52,000 test till May 23 May and same given time Assam did 56,000 test. We are small state our health infrastructure is new, Kerala’s health infrastructure is known since the days on Independence. Even for a day we have surpassed Kerala’s testing number. However we do not want to compete with anyone,” he said.
Assam has 358 COVID-19 positive cases and at least 272 had come from outside the state largely from Maharashtra (108 cases), Delhi (34), Haryana (17), Chennai (21), West Bengal (33), Tamil Nadu (9) and from Saudi Arabia one.
The health minister said that from May 25 flights will resume. “We are expecting around 32 inbound flights and expecting 4500 to 5000 in Northeast India, out of this we are expecting 2,000 will come to Guwahati. For these numbers of people we will have to do quarantine or the hardship for last two months will go in vain. We have around 1000 hotel rooms in Guwahati and rest will be accommodated in schools, colleges and Bhawans. ”
Sarma said, “We could not plan for the flights as the manifest of the flights are available four hour before departure. As middle seat of the flight will not be vacant there will no perfect social distancing therefore the quarantine need have increased manifold. For May 25, we are operating in the situation of uncertainty”.
The health minister said those passengers coming in the day and leaving by evening have to ink a declaration and will not be quarantined. “For lapses in this regard he will charged with criminal offence. On government duty staffs, para military not be subjected to any quarantine however parent department has to keep them in isolated place. Exemption from institutional quarantine will be given to someone coming tosee hospitalized relative or coming in funeral. Any senior citizen above 75 years of age will stay at home after stamping same will be done for expecting mother and Divyangjan.”
The minister said those who have traveled from abroad and have undergone 14 day quarantine in Delhi, will be put under home quarantine.
Sarma said, “As flight will regularly come I ask the people to come in staggered manner for those who come first they will get more trouble. We to need time to put in place facilities. My commitment to people of Assam that I will not allow state be contaminated by COVID”.
He added that Assam is readying facilities 5000 patients and at least 1,000 are ready to use. “At least 452 doctors have registered to serve as under the voluntary service scheme.”