Assam to give free food, water to Covid patients in government hospitals

GUWAHATI: The Assam government has decided to re-introduce free food and drinking water for Covid patients at government hospitals and Covid care centres.
Health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said committees are also being set up with members of civil society to enforce the mandatory 7-day home quarantine for those who are returning home by air and train and have tested negative for Covid on arrival. “We have fixed Rs 300 for each patient daily and deputy commissioners have been asked to provide each patient in government hospitals and Covid care centres with breakfast, lunch, evening tea, dinner and bottle of water. There will also be a canteen in the Covid care centre premises where patients can buy additional items on their own,” Sarma said. On Saturday, the state recorded 2236 fresh cases and 14 deaths. Overall positivity percentage stood at 3.24. As many as 2,18,339 patients recovered from the infection, including 348 on Friday, the recovery rate stood at 93.53 %.