News Analysis India

Tag: Assam COVID cases

  • Assam govt announces new COVID SOP, imposes night curfew

    By ANI

    GUWAHATI: To contain the spread of COVID-19 infections across the state, the Assam government on Wednesday in its new guidelines announced that a night curfew will be imposed across all districts from 9 pm to 5 am.

    In case test positivity of COVID-19 in any area reaches more than 10 cases in the last seven days, jurisdictional District Magistrate will notify such areas as total containment zones and ensure necessary containment measures for COVID, the Assam government said in its new directives that will be effective from today until further orders.

    According to the Standard operating procedure (SoP), all state government offices, workplaces, private offices, and establishments will function normally but not beyond 8 pm.

    “All business, commercial establishments, the takeaway of food items from restaurants, Dhabas, and other eateries. The opening of Sale counters, showrooms, etc. of cold storage and warehouses. Shops dealing with groceries, fruits and vegetables, dairy and milk booths, animal fodder will remain open till 8 pm,” the guidelines read.

    The dine-in restaurants, Dhabas, and other eateries will be allowed to function till 8 pm with 50 per cent seating capacity.

    Auto rickshaws and taxis shall operate for passengers with 100 per cent seating capacity and observance of COVID-19 appropriate behaviour for passengers and compulsory wearing of masks.

    The guidelines further said that pillion riding is allowed with at least a single vaccinated person and compulsory wearing of a mask.

    The government has also allowed intra-district and inter-district transport with a 100 per cent seating capacity for passengers having at least a single dose of vaccine.

    “The physical classes for the postgraduate, graduate, higher secondary final year shall be allowed for students having at host single-dose vaccine. However, students of class 12 who are below 18 years of age and if not vaccinated, should not be allowed to attend the physical classes,” it said.

    It further said that the schools are allowed to open for the first three days only for the vaccination of students, teachers and staff. The physical classes will start from September 6, 2021.

    Meeting or gathering at any open or closed spaces is allowed up to 50 single-dose vaccinated persons with prior intimation to local police. However, will all prior permission of jurisdictional DC for maximum gathering up to 200 persons (at least single vaccinated) may he allowed both for public and private functions which will also be applicable for closed spaces subject to a ceiling of 50 per cent of the hall capacity, it reads.

    The government order further said that the funeral or last rites are allowed with not more than 50 per cent.

    The religious places are allowed to open with up to 40 single vaccinated people per hour while the cinema or theatre hall will remain closed till further notice.

    Assam on Tuesday reported five new deaths due to COVID-19, while 570 more people tested positive pushing the caseload to 5,89,426. 

  • As Covid infection spreads, Assam clamps complete lockdown in seven districts

    Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: The Assam government on Tuesday announced a complete lockdown in seven districts after Covid cases were found to be increasing exponentially there.

    Jorhat, Goalpara, Golaghat, Lakhimpur, Sonitpur, Biswanath and Morigaon were all brought under “round the clock” curfew.

    According to a revised standard operating procedure issued by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority, only those shops that deal in grocery, fruits, vegetables, animal fodder, milk and milk products will be allowed to operate up to 5 pm in these districts. A ban has been imposed on the movement of all modes of vehicles, except those ferrying goods.

    ALSO READ | Assam CM Himanta certifies ‘pattern’ for cops to fire upon accused attempting to escape

    Health Minister Keshab Mahanta said the government had decided to put all 34 districts in three categories – “under total containment” (lockdown), “under partial curfew” and “under relaxed curfew”.

    He said curfew will remain in force from 5 pm to 5 am in the districts showing improvement. The districts include Dhubri, Kamrup (Metro), South Salmara, Majuli, Bongaigaon, Chirang, Udalguri, West Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao, Charaideo and Hailakandi.

    In districts such as Sivasagar, Dibrugarh, Kokrajhar, Barpeta, Nalbari, Baksa, Bajali, Kamrup, Darrang, Nagaon, Hojai, Tinsukia, Dhemaji, Cachar, Karimganj and Karbi Anglong, which are showing a moderate positivity rate, the curfew will remain in force from 2 pm to 5 am.

    The state government will provide ration worth Rs 2,000 to each household in the micro-containment zones.

    Mahanta said the movement of inter-district passenger transport services and people will continue to remain suspended. The government had banned public gatherings in the districts where total lockdown has been enforced.

  • Assam tea estates record 300% spike in Covid cases in 10 days

    By Express News Service
    KOLKATA: Assam has witnessed over 300% rise in Covid-19 positive cases among the workers of tea gardens, which keeps the state’s economy rolling, in 10 days. 

    Till May 28, 6,146 workers tested positive for Covid in 370 tea gardens with 43 deaths while till May 19, 1,851 positive cases were recorded in 220 tea gardens with 14 deaths.

    Vaccination performance is also said to be very poor in the tea-belt of the eastern India’s state which has 800 tea gardens.

    Dhiraj Goala, the president of Assam Tea Tribe Students Association (ATTSA), said in the state’s tea garden region, around 25 lakh people are directly or indirectly work in the agro industry. “Among them, the vaccination rate is very low. Complete vaccination of the tea garden community can possibly check spread of the infection and the government needs to prioritise it,” he said.

    Assam has over 6 lakh tea garden workers. Till now, 44,000 have received the first dose of Covid vaccine and only over 3,000 have got the second dose.

    The affected tea estate’s labour line, which accommodates workers’ lodging facility, has been declared a containment zone. Those who tested positive for Covid-19 are in Covid care facility in the estate.      

    The number of Covid care centres are also said to be inadequate. Among the 370 affected tea gardens, 271 of these have Covid care centres, according to record available with the state government’s health department.

    In the first wave, Assam had hardly recorded Covid positive cases. “Now the virus is being spread rapidly in the tea estates. The tea tribe community with their poor daily wage, lack of education and awareness, poor hygiene are extremely vulnerable to covid infection and it is a real concern as they form about 18% of Assam’s total population,” said an official of the state health department.       

    Assam government formed covid management committees in every tea gardens to monitor the situation closely. “The government is responding according to the reports submitted by the management committees. The reports mention where we need to start vaccination and where testing is required,” said the official.

  • COVID patients aged above 50 without toilet attached room at home to be shifted to centres: Assam CM

    By PTI
    GUWAHATI: COVID patients above the age of 50 who do not have separate toilet attached room in their house would be mandatorily shifted to coronavirus care centres or hospitals from Monday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Friday.

    Assam is witnessing high casaulty rate due to coronavirus in the 50 plus population.

    The chief minister also directed the authorities of the Gauhati Medical College Hospital (GMCH) to take measures to ensure round-the-clock service to COVID patients.

    He directed that immediate treatment must be given to sufferers of the virus even during late night and regular monitoring of the patients must be ensured by the on-duty doctors.

    The chief minister was reviewing the functioning of GMCH in its fight against COVID-19 and took stock of availability of oxygen, essential medicine, ICU beds among others.

    He emphasised on the importance of strengthening telemedicine system and directed for providing free oximeter to poor patients staying in home isolation.

    He also instructed the health department for pressing 100 additional ambulances into service for quickly bringing patients to COVID care centres or COVID hospitals.

    Measures have been taken to conduct one lakh tests daily in the state while 20 thousand people would be tested daily in Guwahati from May 17, Sarma told reporters after the meeting.

    A new Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for tea garden areas would be issued by the health department on Saturday, he said.

    Steps have been also taken for providing food items worth Rs 2000 as one-time allowance to poor patients in the containment zones.

    The chief minister also reviewed the progress of the ongoing construction of the 200 ICU bed COVID hospital at the car parking lot of GMCH, 24 ICUs at Kala Pahar COVID hospital here and signing of MoU between the state Government and DRDO for setting up a 300 bed COVID hospital at Sarusajai for which Rs 19 crore has already been released.

    He said that there is enough stock of Remdesivir injection and oxygen in the state.

    Sarma informed that 27,56,790 lakh people have been vaccinated till now in the state and 3,70,000 vaccines are available.

    He said that Health Minister Keshab Mahanta has been continuously monitoring the situation in all parts of the state.

    The Chief Minister also inspected the ongoing construction of the 200 ICU bed COVID hospital in the GMCH parking area.

    He also enquired about the health condition of GMCH Superintendent Dr Abhijit Sarma who has tested COVID positive and has been hospitalised.

    Political Secretary to the chief minister Jayanta Malla Barua, Principal Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department Anurag Goel, MD NHM Assam Dr. S. Laxmanan, Principal of GMCH Dr.

    Achyut Baishya and senior doctors of GMCH were present in the meeting.

  • Prior nod, 11 pm deadline: Covid curbs ruffle feathers of Assam Bihu committees

    Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: Bihu organising committees in Assam are up in arms against the state government after it had come up with certain curbs given the Covid pandemic.

    The government had on Friday issued a standard operating procedure (SOP), making it mandatory for the Bihu committees across the state to obtain prior permission for the programmes and wind them up by 11 pm every night.

    The Bihu committees are miffed that the government did not take them into confidence before “unilaterally” issuing the SOP. They have already staged a protest in Guwahati demanding the relaxation of the restrictions.

    Kailash Nath Sarma, who is the advisor to Brihattar Guwahati Bihu Sanmilani Samannay Raksha Samiti, said the government could not force the SOP on the Bihu organisers.

    “Bihu programmes begin late evening and continue till the wee hours, so we are seeking relaxations of the SOP. We want that we are allowed to continue with the programmes till 1 am,” Sarma said.

    ALSO READ | ‘No lockdown’: Assam all set to celebrate Bihu with Covid curbs

    He also had issues with the guideline that the members of the Bihu organising committees must get themselves tested for COVID. He requested the administration to provide volunteers and ensure the sanitization of the areas of Bihu programmes.

    Pranab Goswami, who is the general secretary of “Sadou Asom Bihu Sanmilani Samannayrakshi Samiti”, claimed the SOP was flawed.

    “The SOP says the sites of Bihu events must be sanitized twice a day. How is that possible for us? Shouldn’t this be done by the Health department?” Goswami asked.

    He described as “strange” the government’s direction that the Bihu organisers must obtain prior permission. He said never before were the Bihu committees required to obtain prior permission to celebrate the “national festival” of the state.

    There is widespread resentment over the SOP but the government defended it, stating it was forced to take the measures given the spike in COVID cases in many states.

    Cultural events take the centrestage during the month-long Rongali Bihu, celebrated from mid-April. It could not be celebrated last year due to the pandemic.

  • Assam reports five new COVID-19 cases, lowest since April 2020

    By PTI
    GUWAHATI: Assam reported only five new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, the lowest daily spike since April last year, a health bulletin said.

    The fresh infections pushed the state’s coronavirus tally to 2,17,309, it said.

    Fourteen more people were cured of the disease, taking the recovery rate among the coronavirus patients in the state to 98.76 per cent.

    As many as 2,864 people were vaccinated during the day, the bulletin said.

    The state’s coronavirus death toll remained unchanged at 1,347 as no fresh fatality was reported.

    The first dose of the vaccine was administered to 1,365 people during the day, while the second dose was given to 1,499 beneficiaries.

    The state has so far vaccinated 1,29,603 people, including 5,249 who received the second dose.

    No Adverse Event Following Immunisation (AEFI) case was reported during the day.

    Assam now has 258 active cases, while 2,14,615 people have recovered from the disease and three patients have migrated to other states so far.

    The state has so far tested over 66.9 lakh samples for COVID-19, including 11,922 in the last 24 hours.