GUWAHATI: Assam’s minister of state for health and family welfare Pijush Hazarika on Wednesday said the situation in the city, in view of the rising COVID-19 cases and onset of the “first phase” of community transmission, has become alarming.
So far, over 500 persons have tested positive for the virus in Kamrup Metro district alone, and with a surge in cases over the past few days, the district administration was compelled to impose total lockdown in eleven wards of the city from late Tuesday evening in a bid to break the transmission chain.
Speaking to reporters here Wednesday, Hazarika made a fervent appeal to people outside Kamrup Metro not to visit the capital city, unless very urgent, warning that the city was “witnessing the first phase of community transmission.”
“Of late, more than half of the COVID positive cases have emerged from Guwahati alone. Yesterday we had 202 cases, of which 102 were reported from the city. Such cases have been reported from just about anywhere in the city, be it hospitals, banks, government offices and shopping malls,” he said.
The minister also appealed to residents of the wards under lockdown to stay home to break the transmission chain.
“I have been requesting people from the past three and half months and I sincerely appeal to them again to refrain from coming out of their houses unless in case of an emergency. However, if people continue to willfully violate norms, then the administration would be compelled to initiate legal action,” he said.
The Kamrup Metro deputy commissioner too had warned that the lockdown imposed on Tuesday would be stricter than the previous one.
Hazarika apprehended that similar restrictions would have to be imposed if a surge in cases in the other wards of the city is witnessed.
“A total lockdown in the entire city would however be detrimental to the economy and affect people’s lives. However, if the guidelines and safety protocols are strictly adhered to, such a situation could be avoided,” he said.