With 95 new cases, Assam Covid-19 count rises to 643

GUWAHATI: Driven by the homecoming of thousands of people, Assam's Covid-19 count has increased to 643 with the addition of 95 news cases on Tuesday.
Till Monday, the total number of cases was 548, which was marked by the highest single-day spike of 156 cases. The 600-mark was breached in just eight days after the first 100 cases were reported. The total active cases now stand at 574 while 62 have recovered and have been discharged till Monday and four have died so far. Remaining three cases have migrated to other states
"This situation of daily rise in the number of positive cases will remain at least till June 10. Two lakh people had registered with us for their homecoming and one lakh of them have already arrived. Between June 10 and 15, the flow of people will start thinning out," state health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
He added, "If we can hold on for the next 20 days, Assam will be safe from community transmission of the virus."
Almost 98% of the Covid-19 positive cases in the state so far are imported from outside the state, including the 39 Tablghi Jamaat returnees.
On Tuesday, 12 flights arrived carrying 1000 passengers to Guwahati. Domestic flight services resumed from Monday and more than 600 passengers had disembarked here. According to the state quarantine SOP, all returnees have been quarantined in their respective home districts, except for people for four districts, who have been quarantined in Guwahati itself and swab samples of all of them have taken for tests. The same SOP applies to others coming by train and road.
Sarma took to Instagram to say, "The recent increase in the number of positive cases should not deter our will to contain the pandemic. Assam has done better than many other states in terms of sample testing, screening & recovery rates. We are strong headed & determined. With the continuous efforts of people, we shall definitely win the battle against the global pandemic."
He also appealed to people not to panic and maintain social distancing. "From preparing various stadiums and hotels into quarantine centre to ensuring best healthcare facilities in government & private hospitals for both COVID & non COVID patients, Assam has come a long way in its efforts to contain the pandemic. It is only because of these efforts that for a long period of time, Assam didn't observe any major spike in positive cases," he wrote. He added, "However, life never stops & in order to streamline our activities on the policy of 'Jaan Bhi Jahaan Bhi', as advised by Hon PM Narendra Modi, we need to bring normalcy in economic activities, as well as help people stranded in various parts of the country."