STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Assam has been under a 'panic attack' following the detection of COVID-19 in a person who returned from England recently. The panic has stemmed from the outbreak of a mutated variant of Coronavirus detected in Britain. However, State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that there's no fresh wave of the virus.
Addressing the media here on Friday, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "A person who has returned to the State from Britain tested COVID-19 positive. To ascertain if the virus is the mutated variant that wreaked havoc in Britain, the sample of the COVID-19 patient has been sent to the Pune-based National Institute of Biologicals. The result is expected within three/four days.
"The patient has been kept in isolation. In the past 15 days, as many as 105 people returned to Assam from Britain, including 72 of Kamrup (M)."
The Health Minister denied the possibility of outbreak of the new Corona strand in the State. He has also ruled out the possibility of fresh lockdown in the State.
"Assam is largely free from Corona. The number of COVID-19 patients in the State is below 100. There's nothing to worry. We've taken measures to reopen schools from January 1, 2021. However, Corona testing will continue in airports and railway stations will continue.
"The Centre has ruled out the possibility of any fresh wave of COVID in the country," he said.
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