Assam reduces home quarantine period to a week

In a directive issued on Friday, the state health department stated that the decision to reduce the home quarantine period was taken on the basis of the “evolving situation and with new findings about COVID-19.”

The partial modification to the earlier order, it said that the state government would not provide essential items worth Rs 2,000 except to families living below poverty line (BPL), ailing, elderly, divyang (differently abled).

The state government had provided essential items worth Rs 2000 to more than 1.12 lakh families during the 14-day quarantine period.

“The state government needs to optimally utilise the resources at its disposal for core activities of testing and treatment of COVID,” the modified order stated.

“The health and family welfare department is fully committed to provide the maximum possible medical care and facilities to all people who have been affected by COVID and has ensured that all citizens have access to testing and treatment facilities absolutely free of cost,” it added.

Assam has registered close to 30,000 COVID-19 positive cases and 76 deaths till Friday night and the recent spurt in cases has prompted prohibition of inter-district movement and lockdown in several districts of the state.

Weekend lockdown and night curfew has been currently imposed in Guwahati (Kamrup Metro district) which has witnessed over 13,500 positive cases, with a massive spike noticed over the past five to six weeks.