Need to sensitize government officials: Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal

GUWAHATI: With the coronavirus threat fast spreading across the country, Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal held a review meeting on Saturday, during which he directed the health department to take steps for sensitizing all government officials from state headquarters to the panchayat level on Covid-19 and discuss precautionary measures that need to be taken.
He further urged people not to be apprehensive about meeting any foreigner and directed the police department to take all necessary steps for their security.
Sonowal also asked the department to carry out extensive awareness drives among people of the state involving field-level functionaries. He also directed them to impart training to staff of government and private health institutions.
The chief minister further asked the department to form dedicated teams at the village level by involving ASHA and anganwadi workers who would visit all households and inform people about the preventive measures that need to be undertaken to remain safe from the virus threat. He also asked the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) to press into service all of its mechanisms to generate awareness among commuters on coronavirus disease. He also urged the railways to collaborate with the health department in dealing with the same.
Meanwhile, the state-level International Women's Day celebrations, that was scheduled to be held at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra here on Sunday, has been postponed in the wake of advisories asking people to avoid mass gatherings.