COVID-19: Both throat & nasal samples will now be tested in Assam

April 18: As of now, only throat samples were collected for testing in Assam. However, from now onwards both throat and nasal samples will be collected. The throat and nasal samples will then be mixed and sent for testing. This was informed by state Health Minister, Dr. himanta Biswa Sarma in a press briefing held in Guwahati on Saturday evening.

Addressing the media, Dr. Sarma said that the symptoms of COVID-19 initially appears in the throat. So to detect the positive cases early, now both throat and nasal samples will be collected.

The minister further stated that out of the 34 positive cases in the state, 82% patients had no symptoms initially but were rather silent carriers of the virus, whereas, 20% had fever, 11% had cough and 7% only had the critical sore throat that could be primarily connected with typical coronavirus patients.

Out of the total 34 positive cases in Assam, 12 were discharged, 1 died and at present there are only 21 active COVID-19 patients who are undergoing treatment at different hospitals.