147 tests +ve in Cachar till 7 PM on Saturday, 1 died in last 24 hours at SMCH

August 29: A total of 147 new cases of COVID-19 were detected from across Cachar district till 7 PM on Saturday. Out of the 147 fresh cases, 142 of them were found positive in Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), whereas the rest 05 were detected positive in the 1st slot of RT-PCR Test. The results of some more slots of RT-PCR tests are awaited and so the number of positive cases may further rise at night. This was informed by Suman Choudhury, District Media Expert on Saturday evening.

With this, the total tally of coronavirus patients detected in Cachar till now has gone upto 6152. Out of this, 4547 patients got cured and were subsequently discharged. At present, there are 1582 active cases of COVID-19 in Cachar district. Further, one patient from Karimganj died at SMCH due to COVID-19 at SMCH during the day.

As of now, Cachar district has registered 25 COVID-19 deaths. State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said during a press briefing in Guwahati on Saturday that in the state, the position of Cachar is at 3rd slot in terms of death of COVID-19 patients, which is indeed a matter of great concern. Further, in the state, 433 Covid patients are now administered oxygen in various government and private hospitals of the state. Out of the 433 patients, 60 of them are on oxygen support at Silchar Medical College & Hospital (SMCH). Further, work for a new block of 40-bedded ICU at SMCH is in progress and will be functional by the first part of September.

In the 1st slot of RT-PCR Test Reports, 05 persons were tested positive in Cachar on Saturday. Out of the five, one of them, a 17-year-old male is a patient at Cachar Cancer Hospital & Research Centre (CCHRC), Meherpur. Another 70-year-old prisoner at Silchar Central Jail was also detected during the day. A 58 years old male from Dinonathpur Grant was also found positive. Another 40 years old female from Palonghat Bazar was detected as COVID-19 positive on Saturday. The last one in this slot is a 42 years old male from Sadagram in Dholai. The last two persons came in direct contact with a high risk lab confirmed case. All of them are asymptomatic.

From now onwards, the State Health Department has introduced some basic changes as related to COVID-19. Here are the changes as highlighted by the State Health Minister on Saturday:

• All those who are in need of RT-PCR Test Results on an urgent basis shall have to pay Rs.2200. In such cases, on payment of this amount, their test reports will be made available within 24 hours.
• From now onwards, after discharge of patients from Covid Care Centres (CCC), they will not be provided ambulance or vehicles for going back to their residence. The discharged patients from CCC will now have to make their own arrangements for going back to their home. However, the drop down facility will be available only in case of inter-district patients.
• The charge of paying cabins in govt hospitals now shall have to paid by the patients themselves. As of now, this cost was not charged from the patients. This facility of free cabin will now no more be available.
• Further, the minister said that patients admitted in private Covid hospitals in the state shall now have to pay the price of plasma kit, if at all they require plasma. Such private hospitals or nursing homes shall charge an amount of Rs.6000 for the plasma kits. The minister said that the price of plasma kits shall not have to be paid by patients admitted in govt hospitals.