Assam Govt. approaches World Bank seeking funds to create massive quarantine facilities

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Assam Government has approached the World Bank (WB) seeking funds to create massive quarantine facilities across the State, even as the number of COVID-19 positive cases rose to 115 with 15 positive cases reported on Monday night.

The Minister tweeted on Monday night that 15 new positive cases were reported — four from Golaghat, two from Cachar and one each from Jorhat and Nagaon and seven from Guwahati. With two deaths reported from GMCH in Guwahati on Monday, the total deaths in COVID across the State have risen to four. The person who died this morning has been identified as Gopindra Chandra Malakar (71 years) who was also suffering from cancer and arrived in the State from Mumbai recently. Another patient also died in the GMCH late at Monday night before the detection of corona. Now, while the total active COVID cases in Assam are 68, altogether 41 persons have recovered so far.

Earlier addressing a press conference at Janata Bhawan here on Monday afternoon, Health & Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the State will require Rs 300 crore to create quarantine facilities for one lakh people. He added that going by the increase in the number of COVID positive cases, strict quarantine — both institutional and home — is the only option left to prevent infection rate from going out of control. "So, we have started a preliminary discussion with the World Bank for funds to create adequate quarantine facilities," he pointed out.

Sarma further stated that the recent rise in COVID-positive cases in the State is due to coming of a large number of people from outside. But fortunately most of these positive cases are currently in quarantine camps and centers, he added.

"There are still a huge number of people stranded outside the State and they want to return to their homes. I appeal to these people to come to the State in a systematic manner so that we can create suitable quarantine places. Sudden rush of people to the State will create chaos in the existing quarantine facilities and also increase the chances of COVID infection. If infection at quarantine camps and centers spreads, there will be chances of community infection," he said.

The Minister further said that the government is now also thinking of promoting adequate home quarantine provisions as it has to spend Rs 30,000 for institutional quarantine of a single person. He also said that the government will soon come out with a slogan 'Ruthless Quarantine with Big Heart'.

Sarma also stated that the Health department has so far tested 40,000 swab samples.