'Assam's COVID situation to be in control for next 1 week with existing facilities'

GUWAHATI: Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today informed that Assam's current arrangements against the COVID-19 should tide it over for at least a week amid a surge of cases in the second wave of the pandemic.

"I believe the situation will remain satisfactory. As per our current arrangement, we should not have any problems as COVID-19 Care centres at the Sarusajai and the SIRD in Kahikuchi will begin functioning tomorrow," Sarma said addressing media at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) after a review meeting. "We will get 650 beds in these two facilities."

Biswa Sarma also informed that the state health department is in touch with the private hospital owners in order to ramp up the fight against the pathogen.

"We have also ramped up screening. We have set up 29 more screening centres which will become functional tomorrow," the minister further added.

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"To ensure that there is no shortage of vaccine, we are in constant touch with the Centre. Up until yesterday, we had two lakh six thousand lakh vaccines and today we have received a shipment of two lakh Covishild vaccines," Sarma said, emphasizing that there will be no shortage of vaccines -- at least until May 2.

In regards to Remdesivir, Biswa Sarma said, the current stock should be enough to tide over the current batch of patients and will not pose any concern in the immediate future.

Sarma further added that with the opening of COVID Care Centres yet again, the Assam state government has allotted a sum of Rupees 300 for their nutrition needs of the COVID-19 patients.

"In front of every COVID Care Centre," Sarma said, "a canteen will be set up to enable the patients to make surplus purchases," the minister added.

Additionally, Sarma said, committees consisting of the village headman and other elders will be set up in villages to enforce 'home quarantine' for returnees. "The main task of the committee will be to ensure that the returnees are quarantined for a period of 7 days upon arrival," he said.

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