COVID care infrastructure: Sarbananda Sonowal and Himanta Biswa Sarma take stock

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Both Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took stock of the COVID-19 preparedness in the State on Friday, albeit separately.

The Chief Minister said that the Government has ramped up COVID infrastructure to ensure that no one is deprived of treatment. "The Government will do everything possible," he assured the patients at Sarusajai COVID Care Centre in Guwahati.

On the same line, the Health Minister took several measures to increase the number of ICU (Intensive Care Unit) beds and oxygen facilities in the State. Visiting the GMCH on Friday, he said that he had talked to the 4 Corps GOC for the construction of a 60-bed ICU facility at the TMCH (Tezpur Medical College and Hospital). "The GOC agreed to our proposal," he said.

"We've also talked to the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organization) for the setting up of a 300-bed hospital with oxygen facility in Guwahati. The work for the setting up of a 200-bed COVID Care Centre at the parking lot of the GMCH (Gauhati Medical College and Hospital) will be started shortly. A 60-bed ICU facility has been completed at Jagiroad," Sarma added.

Earlier, Sarbananda Sonowal said, "I've asked the authorities to keep oxygen facilities and other ancillaries ready. In this hour of crisis, we all should be united and perform our responsibilities. Earlier too, the people of the State obeyed COVID protocol and fought the virus out. I don't want a further escalation of the situation in the State needing lockdown. I appeal to the people to show resoluteness and responsibilities. On its part, the Government is doing its best to upgrade infrastructure like ICU beds, oxygen facilities etc."

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