COVID situation critical, oxygen availability a concern :Himanta

GUWAHATI: Assam Health Minister, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma today termed the COVID-19 pandemic situation in Assam ‘critical ’even as COVID19 positive cases in Assam have surpassed one lakh mark and there has been a slight increase in positivity rate to over 6 per cent during the last 15 days.
Expressing grave concern over people’s indifference to wearing face masks and maintaining social distance of late, the minister warned that the state government was worried over the growing demand for medical oxygen given that more and more COVID patients in the state have to be put under oxygen support.
“As on date 433 COVID patients in the state are under oxygen support, 26 are in ICU, 707 have been administered plasma while 1350 patients have been administered life-saving Remdesivir doses. This is not a very good situation. It is, in fact, critical situation. As we have limited resources, we have to ensure reduction of cases. So, everybody must wear mask, maintain social distance and undergo COVID tests at the earliest,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kamrup (Metro) district has recorded the highest number of COVID-19 deaths in the state so far. The death toll in the district is 64. A
Addressing a press conference here, Assam health minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma said that Kamrup (Metro) district is followed by Dibrugarh with 39 COVID-19 deaths.
Cachar, Tinsukia, Karimganj and Kamrup (Rural) districts have reported 25, 20, 18 and 17 deaths respectively out of the total 286 deaths reported in the state so far.
The Minister further said that the high incidence of COVID19 in Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup (Rural), Tinsukia, Dibrugarh Jorhat and Barav Valley districts have been a cause of concern for the state health authorities.