Assam: One UK-returnee tests positive, Health Department on high alert

Guwahati: Amidst growing tensions over the new strain of Corona virus, a UK- returned woman who reached Assam a few days ago has tested positive. Assam Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed on Friday that the woman is currently in the isolation ward of Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).

According to reports, the samples of the returnee have been collected and sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune for verification. Although it has not yet been confirmed whether she is infected with the new strain of the virus or not, the results are expected to come in three days. "The woman has been shifted to the GMCH. Hopefully, by tomorrow we will be able to locate rest of the returnees," Dr. Manoj Choudhury, executive director at National Health Mission (NHM), Assam informed on the matter.

As far as the precautions taken, the Health department has risen high alert and started conducting proper screening tests for the incoming passengers. Contact tracing of the UK-returnee are also underway as per reports. "Effort is on to track all the passengers who have arrived in Assam through the UK. Some of the returnees, who have mentioned their phone numbers of UK in the records, could not be reached. But such contact details have been shared with the police and the district administrations who are working vigorously to locate them," Choudhury said.

The Health Minister has in the meanwhile reissued the SOP to ensure new Covid regulations in the new year. The SOP which will be in place until December 10 prohibits the gathering of more than 50 people at any place. On the possibility of imposing lockdown, Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that no such decisions have been taken until now and the people of Assam can expect a new way of living starting January 1. 

Notably, a total of 110 passengers have reached Assam from UK in the last one month, and 67 of them have been traced and tested so far. The only woman who has tested positive is reportedly a working professional in Britain.

Also Watch: PM address farmers

Also Read: Big infra push: Nitin Gadkari to lay foundation of highway project in Assam