GUWAHATI, April 19: A review meeting to prepare an action plan against COVID-19 was chaired by Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal in the presence of the health minister, chief secretary and senior officials of health, disaster management departments and state police here on Monday.
Principal secretary of health department Samir Kumar Sinha gave a powerpoint presentation on the prevailing situation and steps taken so far to contain the spread of coronavirus in the state.
As it is, the state has converted the MMC Hospital at Panbazar here to a “COVID hospital” while deciding to create several other set-ups to accommodate patients.
Six deaths were reported in the state on Sunday while as many as 639 COVID-19 positive cases were detected. The positivity rate increased to 2.74 percent as on Sunday night.
The chief minister was apprised that the number of hospital beds in every district has been increased in anticipation of rising cases while Remdesivir, oxygen cylinders, etc have been stocked adequately.
Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) chief executive officer G.D Tripathi also informed the Chief Minister about steps taken by the department to manage the situation.
He highlighted the need to impose restrictions in the districts where the number of cases has risen to more than hundred to prevent mass gatherings.
Sonowal directed the chief secretary to gear up preparations in each district to fight the pandemic while instructing the director general of police to strictly maintain COVID19 protocols and prevent mass gatherings.
The chief minister also laid stress on making the people aware about wearing masks, maintaining cleanliness and asked the concerned departments to ramp up COVID19 tests at the bus and truck terminuses while making tests of truck drivers coming from outside compulsory at the Srirampur and Chagolia gates.
“Discussed the roadmap ahead to combat the ongoing COVID19 situation in the presence of the health minister and senior officials in Guwahati. We are taking all measures to keep citizens safe and healthy. Do wear masks and please follow government guidelines,” Sonowal tweeted later.
State health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma instructed the health department officials to start a helpline for various coronavirus consultations and problems.
The key decisions taken in the meeting would however be revealed in a media conference to be addressed by the chief secretary and DGP on Tuesday.