STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The COVID-19 scene is fast deteriorating in Assam with the number of deaths doubled in a week. The virus has so far claimed 35 lives in the State. The number of COVID deaths was 14 on July 3.
Altogether eight persons succumbed to COVID-19 in the city on Friday. A 53-year-old Assam Police personnel who did not develop any complication, suddenly collapsed at the COVID Care Centre at IIT Guwahati and died on Friday. Doctors said the police personnel suffered sudden decline of oxygen level in his body and died within hours.
Terming the death of the police person as an instance of dreadfulness of COVID-19, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma urged the people to be extremely careful and take all pre-cautions to remain safe from the virus. He said the police personnel who was asymptomatic without any co-morbid condition, died within hours after he suddenly collapsed.
The condition of many COVID positive patients undergoing treatment at ICU at Gauhati Medical College & Hospital is stated to be critical.
With Guwahati witnessing more than 5,000 positive cases, the Health department and Kamrup (Metropolitan) district administration on Friday held a meeting with nagarik samities to take a decision on extending the present lockdown in the city. The nagarik samities have recommended extension of the lockdown for two weeks with a condition that essential commodities and medicines must be made available to citizens. The State Government is expected to take a formal decision on lockdown extension on Saturday. The government may extend the lockdown for another week.
On the other hand, the State Health department has converted Assam Don Bosco University in to a 350-bed COVID Care Centre and Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education at Sonapur to a 150-bed one.