Assam step up in fight against novel coronavirus

Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday chaired a meeting through video conferencing with all district collectors (DCs) of the state and directed them to take all measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. Assam chief secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna, minister of state for health and family welfare Pijush Hazarika, and other top government officials were also present in the meeting. Himanta Biswa Sarma said that no positive case has been reported in the state so far, but the state government is prepared for difficult situations. Himanta Biswa Sarma directed the DCs to start the thermal screening process of the domestic passengers at all the airports, railway stations and other land ports in the bordering areas of Bhutan and Bangladesh. Himanta Biswa Sarma also directed the district administration to take strict actions to prevent hoarding of essential things in all places. "The district administration will take measures and creating awareness amongst people to avoid mass gatherings at public places and religious institutions," Himanta Biswa Sarma said. "It is a health emergency and we don't wait for anybody for taking preventive measures. We have to fight this battle against coronavirus with support of all the people of Assam. So far, we are not even Stage 1 or 2. Because, not a single positive case has been found in the state so far. sam government will start screening all passengers at airports and railway stations in the state from Tuesday as a precautionary measure to check the spread of novel coronavirus. Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said that no positive case of Covid-19 has been found in the state so far, but all preventive measures have taken up. The Assam minister said that instead of testing only foreign passengers, thermal screening of domestic passengers will also be conducted in all airports and railway stations in the state from Tuesday. "In Assam, we have tested a large number of people, but every result has come back negative. So, we don’t have any confirm coronavirus case in the state as of now. But two test results are pending. We have decided to increase surveillance in railway stations and airports," Himanta Biswa Sarma said. The Assam minister said that the state government is alert to deal with any situation. "The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has accredited three laboratories and also allowed three testing sites in Assam. We have created more than 2,000 quarantine facility, 500 isolation beds in the state and all required equipment kits are available with us," Himanta said. He further said that the group control room and task forces are working to check the spread of the deadly novel Coronavirus in the state. "As a precautionary measure, we have shut down all educational institutions, cinema halls, gyms, swimming pools in the state till March 29. We have not received any advisory notice from the Centre regarding shut down of the shopping malls. We have directed all teachers to go to different villages and create awareness among the people," Himanta Biswa Sarma said. A total of 36 tests have been done in three accredited laboratories in Assam so far and 34 tests have been found negative, two tests result are pending. The Assam government has also restricted the entry of daily visitors in the Janata Bhawan complex (Assam Secretariat) to 100 persons per day till March 31. An order issued by the Secretariat Administration (Estt.) department on Monday stated that all passes including vehicle entry passes issued by the different department is to be stopped with immediate effect till March 31. Only in urgent cases, the Secretariat Administration department will issue passes on receipt of a request from other departments in advance (preferably at least one day ahead) till March