Taking the guard off during Durga Puja will be like calling back COVID-19: Himanta Biswa

Oct. 16: The positivity rate of COVID-19 has reduced to a considerable extent in Assam. On Thursday, the positivity rate in the state was 2.19 percent. This gradual decline in the curve of coronavirus should not make the people complacent. If during the forthcoming Durga Puja festivities, we take guard off and compromise with the Covid protocol, then it would be like inviting the virus back. If such a situation arises once again, then it would be a tough situation for the state. This was said by State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma while speaking to reporters in Sivasagar on the sidelines of the launch of development projects.

Himanta Biswa Sarma further added that the people of Assam should take lessons from several other states where a 2nd wave was reported due to casual attitude of the people. He said that only by staying vigilant and obeying the COVID-19 protocol, Assam can stop the second wave.

After couple of days, the number of positive cases have again gone down below the 1000-mark in Assam. On Thursday, out of 35,040 tests only 769 were detected as COVID-19 positive. With this, the state tally of coronavirus has now gone upto 1,98,982, out of which, 28,804 are active cases. Further, during the day, 09 more persons in the state died due to COVID-19, thereby taking the death tally of the state to 843. On Thursday, 1263 patients were discharged in Assam. With this, a total of 1,69,332 patients got cured and were subsequently discharged from various hospitals and Covid Care centres across the state.