Will bring new SOP if Covid cases surge in Assam: health minister Keshab Mahanta

GUWAHATI: State health minister Keshab Mahanta said Assam government may bring a new SOP if Covid cases surge in the state.
He said hospital infrastructure is ready to tackle another wave of Covid. Mahanta, however, said the Covid situation is under control in the state till date, even as the number of cases has gone up in some of the states in the country.
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was also present in the recently held virtual meeting conducted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with several CMs, including Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.
“We are still free from the effects of the fourth wave but precautionary measures have been taken to handle the situation. Hospitals, doctors, ICUs and pediatric ICUs are ready in every hospital,” said Mahanta. Mask and social distancing have gone for a toss in the state with decline in Covid cases from February. Mahanta appealed to citizens not to lower their guard and start using masks. “Masks were never withdrawn by any government order,” he added.
Though the state has not witnessed an alarming rise in fresh cases, active cases have gone up to 11 in Assam. With no Covid case being detected in the state since March 28, the lone active case, that was in home isolation in Jorhat district of upper Assam at that time, was discharged on April 6. Assam thus became free from Covid after a two-year long battle against Covid-19.
Health department officials said if testing is ramped up, more cases may get detected in the state, which has several flights connected with the states where cases are rising. “Unless the state government orders mandatory testing at some entry points or places of public gathering, hardly anyone comes forward for voluntary testing,” said an official.
Only around 500 Covid tests a day are being conducted in the state.