Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI: "We are almost out of COVID. Now our focus is on normal activities," said a confident Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Inaugurating a super speciality hospital at the GMCH (Gauhati Medical College and Hospital) campus here on Friday, Sarma said, "This super speciality hospital was fully used for attending to COVID-19 patients. Now it is open for all patients. This should be a message for the general mass in the State that we've started normal activities, staying away from COVID.
"I'm not saying that the COVID menace is over. Still now people die of COVID-19 and fresh positive cases are reported. But what I believe is that the COVID menace is almost over. People may criticize me for making such a statement when people still die of COVID-19. But I'm saying with full responsibility and based on data that we're almost free from COVID.
"The disease (COVID) is very much there. We need to continue wearing of face masks and maintaining social distancing. These two habits are a must not only for COVID-19. These are essential for other diseases as well.
"Most probably, in February-March we'll be able to vaccinate doctors and other medical staff. The two-day 'dry run' for COVID-19 vaccination in Tezpur and Nalbari are almost successful.
"We did levy additional taxes on a few items, especially petrol, diesel, liquor etc., to augment revenue generation in the State during the COVID-19 outbreak. Now, we're in a position to withdraw the additional taxes. We're going to withdraw all such additional taxes while laying the Vote on Account in the Assembly in February.
"This super speciality hospital has 186 beds and 17 ICUs (Intensive Care Units) with state-of-the-art equipments. This building is the Phase-I of the super speciality hospital, and around 90 per cent work of the Phase-II of the super speciality hospital is over."
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