It will be a disaster if COVID-19 case toll reaches 90 thousand mark in a month by September end; warns Himanta

Assam Health & Family Welfare minister Himanta Biswa Sarma warned that if the COVID-19 positive cases continues at the rate of 3000 per day than it will be a disaster. While addressing a press conference at the Janata Bhawan in Guwahati on Friday, Sarma said that the total tally of COVID-19 cases will reach 90 thousand in a month by the end of September. Sarma also stated that the state cabinet will take a strict and major decision on Saturday.

Sarma however made it clear that state governments cannot impose lockdown anymore. Such decisions can only be taken by the Central government. Sarma made it clear in reference to the Unlock 4.0 guidelines recently issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The minister urged everyone to wear masks and maintain social distancing, as his government’s power to clamp lockdowns has ceased to exist post the Central guidelines.

He, however, cautioned that the state government was going to be stricter than before in ensuring that people wear masks. In the same breath, he added that the Judiciary has issued an order in favour of penalizing the ones not wearing masks. The Minister said that the government has decided to charge Rs 500 for not wearing masks. Additionally, if the same person commits this offence twice, the penalty will be doubled.

Assam on Thursday recorded 3,054 new COVID-19 cases. 3,054 people tested COVID-19 positive out of the 48,846 tests done in the state. The positivity rate for the day stood at 6.25 percent. With the addition of the new cases, the tally has reached 11,8333.

735 cases were reported from Kamrup (Metro), 198 from Dibrugarh, 192 from Cachar, 176 from Hojai. On the other hand, seven people succumbed to the deadly disease on Thursday.

The deceased are Lakhan Gowala (55) & Nirmala Gogoi (43) of Dibrugarh, Romen Borthakur (54) of Sivasagar; Bimala Nanda Das (80) & Jugal Kishore Das (34) of Kamrup (Metro) Priyanath Das (58) of Barpeta & Kabita Barman (33) of Nalbari.

Also Read: ULFA (I) urges Assam government to call off Durga puja celebrations this yearhttps://www.insidene.com/ulfa-i-urges-assam-government-to-call-of-durga-puja-celebrations-this-year/

On the other hand, the Gauhati High Court has ordered punishment for those violating COVID-19 protocol like not wearing mask. One Tanmay Jyoti Mahanta in an Public Interest Litigation (PIL) argued that the State machineries have miserably failed in implementing mandatory use of proper face masks by people of the State who move out of their houses. The people do not maintain proper social distancing in public or work places, the petitioner stated in the PIL.  

Readers like you make Inside Northeast’s work possible

To support our brand of fearless and investigative journalism, support us HERE.

Download:                                                                       

The Inside Northeast app HERE for News, Views, and Reviews from Northeast India.

Do keep following us for news on-the-go. We deliver the Northeast.