A CORRESPONDENT
LAKHIMPUR: The COVID-19 pandemic situation continues to worsen in Lakhimpur district along with the rest of the State. On Saturday, a total of 113 fresh COVID-19 cases were detected as per the result of Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) conducted across the district. On this day, a total of 2,964 people underwent the RAT conducted by the District Health Department in eight COVID-19 Test Centres set up across the district including North Lakhimpur Urban Hospital, Lakhimpur Medical College and Hospital Respiratory Clinic and other Block Primary Health Centers (BPHCs). Out of them, the detected cases were reported from North Lakhimpur Urban Hospital (7), Dhalpur BPHC (16), Bihpuriya BPHC (16), Naoboicha BPHC (12), Boginadi BPHC (21), Ghilamora BPHC (7), Dhakuakhana (14) and Lakhimpur Medical College and Hospital Respiratory Clinic (20). Notably, a total of 117 fresh COVID-19 cases were detected in the district on Friday. This figure is the highest figure regarding the detection of novel coronavirus infected patients in the district during the second wave of the contagion till date.
With these fresh patients, the cumulative total of COVID-19 cases of the district has surged to 9,158 since April 4 of last year. Out of them, 8,396 recovered patients have been discharged from hospitals and home quarantine while there are 692 active cases in the district at present. On Saturday, 7 recovered patients were discharged from institutional isolation while 54 recovered patients were discharged from home isolation. A total of 1,060 people of the district tested positive for COVID-19 during the second wave of the contagion since April 1.
On the other hand, in view of the detection of altogether 22 COVID-19 cases at Karipukhuri Neogchuk village under Laluk Police Station of Bihpuriya Revenue Circle of the district, Deputy Commissioner of Lakhimpur, Khageswar Pegu has declared the village as micro containment zone in order to arrest the spread of the pandemic and to break the chain of the contagion in the interest of the public health. By declaring the village as containment zone under 3(b), (c) and (m) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the Deputy Commissioner has restricted the exit and entry of the people in and out of the containment zone. Only staff for providing food and other essential services is allowed to enter inside the village by wearing full PPE and they are provided separate accommodation near the containment zone as per decision taken by the village level committee. For telemedicine, the people of the village can contact on a mobile number 9395112332. This order will remain in force for fourteen days. Notably, a total of three Micro Containment Zones were declared in the district till date during the second surge of the pandemic.
Further, the Circle Officer (CO) of Bihpuriya Revenue Circle filed a case against Bipul Neog, a resident of the Karipukhuri Neogchuk village, at Bongalmora Police Outpost in respect of the COVID-19 outbreak in the area. A marriage ceremony was held at his home on May 2. This marriage ceremony has been suspected as the epicentre for the spread of the contagion. The CO requested the in-charge of the outpost to launch an inquiry into the matter and to take appropriate action, if liable, under Disaster Management Act, 2005.