COVID-19 situation under control: Deputy Commissioner Cachar Keerthi Jalli

A CORRESPONDENT

CACHAR: Deputy Commissioner, Cachar, Keerthi Jalli said though there has been spurt in COVID-19 positive cases in the district, the situation is by and large under control. 

Addressing a Press Conference at her office conference hall here on Wednesday evening, Deputy Commissioner Jalli said most of the positive cases that were detected were among security personnel numbering 263 as on Tuesday. 

Jalli said the administration is fully geared to tackle the COVID-19 situation and to meet any exigency in case there is rise in the number of positive cases. "The administration is more than prepared to deal with the situation and has the wherewithal to fight coronavirus pandemic," she asserted.  Jalli said if the situation arises, the administration would go in for a makeshift 1,000 bedded COVID Care Centre.

However, she cautioned that the situation would spiral out of control if people do not adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines vis-a-vis wear masks or face cover, maintain social distancing and personal hygiene. The Deputy Commissioner said enforcing total lockdown would hit the common man hard and would deprive them of their livelihoods. However, she was quick to add that the administration would take all segments of people into confidence before placing a proposal to the state government. She informed that based on a general consensus that was likely to emerge from a meeting with senior citizens, merchants' associations and other segments of society slated for tomorrow, the administration would decide the future course of action.

The Deputy Commissioner urged the people to cooperate with the administration in identifying suspected cases or persons with COVID-19 symptoms and also in contact tracing.  Jalli said the administration has taken steps to ensure that no one gets infected while travelling to SMC&H to get their swab samples tested and has set up eight numbers of COVID screening centres at block level to provide more accessibility to the people. 

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