GUWAHATI: Two more COVID-19 deaths were reported in Assam on Thursday, taking the overall toll to 14 in the state.
“With heavy heart, I share this with you all that we have lost two precious lives to the pandemic. Prabhudayal Vidawatka (78) and Subhash Kalita (56), with co morbidities, succumbed to COVID-19,” state health minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma informed through Twitter on Thursday afternoon.
“My prayers and condolences are with the Vidawatka and Kalita families,” Sarma said. He however did not elaborate where the deaths occurred and from where they hailed from.
With the latest casualties, as many as four COVID-19 deaths have been reported in the state in the past five days. A 45-year-old COVID-19 patient had passed away at Guwahati Medical College and Hospital last Sunday while a 50-year-old man tested positive for the virus posthumously on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, COVID-19 positive cases continue to rise sharply in the state with close to 9000 cases reported till Thursday evening even as over 6000 patients have been discharged.
The situation in Guwahati is very critical. As many as 378 cases were reported from the city alone on Wednesday.
Lockdown violations
Day four of the total lockdown saw arrests of 12 more persons by Assam police in connection with violations of the new restrictions imposed in Kamrup Metro district since Sunday evening.
Five more cases have been registered while another 50 vehicles have been detained for plying on road without authorisation on Thursday.
Meanwhile, city police has opened four Whatsapp helpline numbers (6026900970, 6026900971, 6026900972 and 6026900973) for citizens to report lockdown violations.
“I humbly request each and every one to cooperate with Assam police in enforcing lockdown,” the minister appealed.