Guwahati: Assam Finance and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today inaugurated a Covid-19 testing facility at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), the 12th such facility in the state. The lab will function from today itself.
Stating that the Microbiology department of the GMCH will operate this lab, Sarma said that another lab to be operational at MMC hospital in the next 10 days. Sarma said that 40,770 tests have been done so far in Guwahati, and now, the 3D tech digital mammography with tomosynthesis has also been installed at the GMCH.
Himanta Biswa Sarma also informed that the targeted surveillance program also started today. The Hotel staff of Guwahati, the staff of health department, police personnel, transport dept drivers, petrol depot employees, dhabas, truck parking lot employees, employees of godowns, and small shops near these Godwons will be covered under the targeted surveillance meant to pinpoint the source of the virus outbreaks with no travel history.
Sarma said that since the city has about 10 Lakh population. 5% of the residents would be tested under targeted surveillance.
"7,000 trucks enter Guwahati every day. People should not panic. It is not that there is no COVID in Guwahati; but we have been able to identify the patients", Himanta Biswa Sarma said adding, "We will think of lockdown in case we find a large number of positive cases post the 50,000 tests. We do not want to hurt the economy and the traders and business class but if we feel that the situation is getting out of hand or we are staring at a Maharashtra like the situation, then we will put the facts and figures in front of the people."
"The big news is our staff at GMCH, other hospitals, and all lab technicians are working with full dedication. Without thinking much about their own putting everything of theirs at stake. We have to appreciate that", Sarma said.
The Minister, who was recently diagnosed with a kidney stone said that he is now feeling well. "I have been experiencing acute pain in the last three days but I am okay. I have handled the entire election campaign in 2011 while I was on saline due to the same kidney problem. There is nothing to worry about in regards to my health. It is just a kidney stone."