Assam CM appeals to people not to panic over Covid
He appealed to people not to ostracise infected persons.
Assam has 86 COVID-19 positive cases with seven newCOVID-19 cases, including patients and attendants who had comefrom Mumbai and quarantined here, reported on Thursday,besides 15 the previous day.
"Ostracisation of coronavirus patients should neverhappen", he made a plea to the citizens.
Talking to reporters, the chief minister said peoplewould need to carry on observing the COVID-19 protocols likewearing of masks, maintaining social distancing and frequenthand washing, etc. till there is no vaccine discovered for thedeadly virus.
Only strict observance of health department guidelineswould ensure containment of the outbreak, he added. Steps have been taken to bring back the states peoplestranded outside and the returnees must also adhere to COVID-19 protocols, he added. Sonowal visited the mask making facilities of women SHGsunder National Rural Livelihood Mission, Assam at Tatimara,Chandrapur area of the city and took stock of their activitieswhile encouraging them to continue their economic endeavor.
He appreciated the members of women SHGs for setting astrong example of economic resilience in the times of theglobal pandemic. Altogether 10,659 women members of the SHGs have produced51,23,194 face masks till now and out of these, 31,71,314masks have been sold, officials informed. With the brand name Asomi, 84 stalls have been opened tosell masks in 33 districts of the state earning Rs 7.15 crorethrough its sale by the women SHGs. Besides,over four lakhmasks have been distributed free of cost, the officials said. Meanwhile, two persons of Assam have been rescued fromnear New Delhi railway station at the instance of Sonowal. In view of the plight of the two youths from the state,Sonowal this morning directed the Principal ResidentCommissioner, New Delhi to rescue the two who were stranded ata place near New Delhi railway station and provide them refugein Assam Bhawan, officials said. One of rescued identified as Santosh Borah, 19, hailingfrom Lakhimpur districts Pahumara village was engaged in theagriculture sector in Amritsar before the coronavirus inducedlockdown was imposed. Since his economic activity got discontinued, Santosh hadleft for New Delhi on foot as he had no money. The other person is Raja Doley, 24 from Maderguri villageof Lakhimpur district who was in Delhi as a wage earner, theyadded. A team from Assam Bhawan reached out to the strandedpersons and took them to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital forhealth check up as well as to ascertain their COVID status. The Chief Minister also visited the quarantine centre setup at Sarusajai Sports Complex in the city during the day. Accompanied by Health and Family Welfare Minister DrHimanta Biswa Sarma, Sonowal inspected the facilities madeavailable for screening, registration, testing and quarantinefor all symptomatic patients of the state and passengers comefrom outside the state. Pursuant to the directive of the Centre, Assam governmentin its endeavour to combat the surge of coronavirus pandemichas set up Zonal Health Screening Centre and quarantinecentres across the state. The quarantine centre set up at the indoor stadium ofSarusajai Sports Complex with its two extensions has so farprovided quarantine facilities to 2286 persons with 1109 ofthem already released to go to their homes.
Considering the need for more quarantine facilities inview of huge number of passengers of the state coming fromoutside of Assam, Officials said 61 hotels have been earmarkedfor the people to choose them as quarantine centres. ESBSNS SNS