Reducing rate of positive cases result of lockdown: Sarbananda Sonowal

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal reviewed the COVID-19 induced lockdown scenario in Kamrup Metro district and took stock of the various measures undertaken for reducing the spread of coronavirus in the district and rest of the State at a meeting at Assam Administrative Staff College on Wednesday.

The meeting was also attended by Health & Family Welfare Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Industries and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary and Food and Civil Supplies Minister Phani Bhusan Choudhury.

Appreciating the efforts of the Health department, Kamrup Metro district administration, police and other line departments in successfully implementing the lockdown in the district, the Chief Minister said that due to the strict implementation of lockdown protocols the rate of positivity among the tested cases has come down from 36% to 16% in Kamrup Metro. This lockdown would go a long way in breaking the chain of spread and managing affectively the transmission of the pandemic in Guwahati and other parts of Kamrup metro district, he said.

The Chief Minister directed the district administration and police to ensure supply of essential commodities so that people in the district do not have to face hardships during the lockdown. He also instructed for providing the essentials to the poor and underprivileged sections of the society. It was also decided at the meeting that the NGOs coming forward to distribute food to the poor citizens would be able to do so after obtaining necessary permissions from local police stations.

Sonowal said that all future actions would be taken while giving priority to public opinion and various sections of the society would be consulted before further initiatives.

The Chief Minister also stressed the need to restrict movement of private vehicles to keep the rate of infection of COVID-19 in check. He called for evaluating the roadside vending of vegetables and other food items as allowing such practices could contribute in the spike of COVID-19 in the district. He also asked the Chief Secretary and DGP, along with the Health department to monitor the situation in rest of the state as well and asked the district administrations of other districts to thoroughly examine all options before going for measures like lockdown in their respective districts, a press release said.

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