Complete lockdown in Silchar? Wrong interpretation of Himanta’s statement
শিলচরেও পূর্ণ লকডাউন? হিমন্তের কথার ভুল ব্যাখ্যা, আতঙ্ক

July 1: A social media post has become viral in WhatsApp wherein it was mentioned, “Situation in Silchar, Jorhat, Tinsukia, Bongaigaon & Tezpur is being monitored. If more than 20 cases of community spread are found in any of these locations, implementation of complete lockdown might be considered: Himanta Biswa Sarma.” However, on investigation by way2barak, it appeared that the viral message is not correct. This message is a wrong interpretation of what State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said during a press briefing in Guwahati on Wednesday afternoon.

During the press briefing, the State Health Minister informed that a new testing kit will be used for the screening of possible COVID-19 cases in Guwahati. The kit named, Q COVID-19 Ag Test kit can detect cases in about 15 minutes to 1 hour. Training of the medical staff for the new testing kit will take place on Thursday. Following that, the testing model will be implemented from 3 July.

When asked by a journalist that apart from Guwahati, will the new Q COVID-19 Ag Test be implemented in other districts of Assam, the Minister replied, “As of now, this new test will be done only in Guwahati. I have also done a video conference with the Deputy Commissioner’s of Assam on Tuesday night. I have instructed them that if 20 plus cases of community spread of the virus are found in any other parts of Assam, then the new Q COVID-19 Ag Test will be done in those areas.”

Himanta Biswa Sarma while replying to the query further said, “One or two cases from community are found in Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Tezpur, Bongaigaon and Silchar. I have alerted the Deputy Commissioners of these districts. If more number of cases of community spread are found in these places, then the new Q COVID-19 Ag Test can be done there which will give reports within 15 minutes to 1 hour.” Saying so, the minister added that the labs doing test in these 6 districts are now giving the reports almost within 48 hours and so the necessity of introducing new Q COVID-19 Ag Test over there needs to be thought of.

As such, it is evident that the viral message in social media regarding implementation of complete lockdown in certain places along with Silchar is nothing but misinterpretation of what was said by State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. People should not get panicked by the spread of such fake messages.