Only 27 Covid tests done in Assam on first day of NY

Guwahati: The number of Covid tests in Assam has dwindled despite global concerns amid a fresh surge in cases in many countries. In view of this, instructions have been issued to the airport authorities to step up surveillance and to keep tabs on international travellers.
On Sunday, only 27 Covid tests were conducted across the state, which now has 31 districts following the merger of four with their mother districts.
This means less than one test per district, on an average, was conducted. The health department is yet to put out the number of tests that were done on December 31. On December 30, 180 tests were conducted.
Sources in the health department blamed lack of proper instructions on testing for the low testing numbers. “The health department has the test kits, but they are helpless if people don’t come forward to get themselves tested,” Manoj Choudhury, executive director, Assam National Health Mission, said.
To the relief of the health department, the state has not recorded a single Covid infection for more than a month now. However, healthcare experts have repeatedly advised people against lowering their guard and sticking to the Covid-appropriate behaviour like wearing masks and washing hands frequently.
Just about 17% of the eligible population has taken the booster doses in the state to date.