Over 1 lakh defeat coronavirus in Assam, 77.4% cured so far

GUWAHATI: Over 1 lakh people have been cured of Covid-19 in Assam till September 8, with the recovery rate increasing to 77.4%.
“After the state witnessed the first laboratory-confirmed case of novel coronavirus on March 31, backed by the strategic approach of testing, tracing and treating, has helped bring 1,01,239 people home after complete recovery from Covid-19,” said director of medical education, Assam, Dr Anup Kumar Barman.
“Assam has displayed great commitment, strength and will in dealing with the Covid-19 crisis. Professionalism of medical and para-medical fraternity, readiness of health facilities, ensuring availability of required logistics, support of private sector hospitals in managing non-Covid cases, support from development partners, support of other allied department officials, supports from districts and citizens at large are all contributing immensely to fight the pandemic,” Barman said, lauding formulation of need-based policies to register one lakh recoveries.
The Assam government claims to follow a policy of “Ruthless quarantine with a humane heart” to contain the virus, with universal screening of all the travellers has been the policy of the state government since the beginning of the outbreak. The nasopharyngeal samples are tested at the point of entry by a rapid antigen testing kit. All positive cases thereof are shifted to the Covid care centres and those who test negative are sent to compulsory home quarantine for 10 days. A repeat RT-PCR test is also performed for all samples tested negative. If anyone turns positive on RT-PCR, the person can opt for hospital or home isolation.
Currently, 182 Covid care centres in the state are operational, treating mild to moderate Covid-19 cases.
Barman said, “A dedicated team of doctors and healthcare providers call from 104 to enquire about the condition of the patients. In case anyone develops mild or moderate symptoms, the patients are shifted to hospitals.”
He said aggressive testing has been the mainstay of detecting as many Covid-19 cases as possible. State health department data stated that Assam has conducted 25,67, 683 (12,23,749 RT-PCR and 13,43,934 rapid antigen tests) tests till Tuesday. “This testing has yielded in detection of 1,30,823 cases till now. There are 106 Covid screening centres in Guwahati for voluntary testing, where anyone with slightest doubt of Covid-19 can go and get tested,” Barman said. As per recent trends, he said 70% of positive cases are asymptomatic, while the remaining 30% are symptomatic.
“Management and treatment of Covid-19 cases with all the scientifically proven modalities also one of the main strategies of the state government. As the evidence evolved the state has made good use of medicines like Azithromycin, Flavipirar, Tezpbactum, Low Molecular Weight Heparin, Dexamethasone/ Methylprednisolone, Remdesivir, Ivermectine, Doxycycline, etc. Oxygen therapy has also proved to be an important treatment modality for patients with respiratory distress,” a senior health official said.
On the other hand, Assam is one of the leading states in Convalescent Plasma Therapy for moderate to severe Covid-19 patients. More than 1,000 Covid-19 patients have been benefited with this treatment so far, the data said. In conducting tests, Assam ranks 6th in the country with 72,987 tests per million population.