Assam 18th Worst Hit by COVID-19: Union Health Ministry

GUWAHATI: With a total of 4,547 active COVID-19 cases as on April 15, 2021, Assam is the 18th worst hit among 20 states with the maximum number of COVID cases. The Union Health Ministry list was released on Thursday.

The number of total COVID-19 cases in Assam stands at 2,21, 868. The recovery rate as on April 15 is 97%. The number of deaths recorded was 1,122.

Among the 20 states, eight have over five lakh confirmed COVID-19 cases. Theseare -- Maharashtra (35,78,160 cases), Kerala (11,89,175 cases), Karnataka (10,94,912 cases), Tamil Nadu (9,54,948 cases), Andhra Pradesh (9,37,049 cases), Delhi (7,67,438 cases), Uttar Pradesh (7,44,021 cases), and West Bengal (6,30,116 cases). Read more

Assam 18th Worst Hit by COVID-19: Union Health MinistryIndia reported 217,353 COVID-19 cases on Friday, another single-day high as per the Union Ministry of Health date. India's Covid tally now stands at 14,291,917 cases. The number of deaths recorded is 11,183 on Friday. 

There has been 385 fresh cases of the novel coronavirus reported with 3 new deaths with the positivity rate of 1.28%, as of April 15, 2021. The highest COVID-19 contributing districts are Kamrup (M) with 201 cases, Kamrup (R) with 33 cases, Cachar with 22 cases and Dibrugarh with 19 cases. 

Keeping in mind the alarming rate at which the coronavirus cases are skyrocketing and spiraling beyond control, the government of Assam have imposed restrictions for the passengers travelling to Assam from other states. The Health and Family Welfare Ministry headed by Himanta Biswa Sarma, in order to curb the spread of the COVID-19 infections made it mandatory for the travelers from Maharashtra and Bangalore to produce a COVID negative RT-PCR reports from April 9. The passengers must undergo the test within 72 hours of their arrival and be verified by using a QR code or otherwise.  Read more

On April 13 after partially modifying the earlier instructions, Himanta Biswa Sarma took to twitter to announce the updated policy where it is mandatory for all passengers arriving at any airports of Assam excluding the transit passengers to undergo Covid 19 test, both RAT and RTPCR. 

As Assam geared up in celebration for the Rongali Bihu festival, the most anticipated and significant festivals for the Assamese which also marks the advent of an Assamese New Year midst the coronavirus pandemic, the government of Assam issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) providing COVID-19 protocols and guidelines which must be adhered to while going about with the Bihu proceedings. Read more

Recently, it was reported that many artists flaunted the SOP which mentions Bihu processions cannot extend beyond 11 PM. Many of these artists performed way beyond the allotted time. This came after Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma warned that the violations of the SOP would lead to the filing of FIR against the Bihu organizing committee.  

Meanwhile, Assam received 1.781,080 doses of vaccines of which 1,664,064 have been used. 1,17,016 are still available. There are another 1,218 doses in the pipeline. These numbers are as of April 15, Thursday based on government data.

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