Newest Covid variant worries CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

'A survey has rated Assam above national averages on many parameters in health and social sectors'

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Centre has given a slew of instructions to the state governments on 'omicron', the newest Covid-19 Variant detected in South Africa and Hong Kong even as it has not occurred in India as yet.

Giving details of this variant, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "This variant is much stronger than the delta variant. And it spreads too fast. It augurs well that we remain alert about this variant. One precaution is that everyone should take the vaccine doses. No scientist is on record saying that current vaccines cannot prevent the occurrence of the newest variant. As of now, the vaccine is the only weapon for us to fight this variant."

Addressing the media here today, the Chief Minister said, "As of now, 2.10 crore people took the first vaccine dose in the state. Even now, three lakh people are still to take the first dose in Assam. From November 29, we will start a massive drive with around one lakh government employees. In this week, other official works will be on the backburner. The vaccination drive will conclude on December 5.

"These officials will go door-to-door with the voter list as the base document in the 28,205 polling booths in the state. They will mark ticks in the voter list against those who have taken vaccines. They will hand over their report to the government on December 5. Simultaneously, vaccination of the second dose will go on. Around 1.15 crore people have taken the second dose in the state. We hope to complete the second dose by March 2022."

Citing the report of the National Family Health Survey-V, the Chief Minister said, "Assam made tremendous progress in many parameters in the health and social sectors. The infant mortality rate in the state is much below the national level. The institutional delivery in Assam is 74 per cent against the national average of 51 per cent. It is the direct outcome of our 16-year-long health reforms. We are spending six per cent of the GDP on health and social sectors. It is something to reckon with.

"Now, we need to keep up with this trend. We are bound to improve further to maintain the rising graph."

Also Read: PM Modi Chairs Top-Level Meeting Amid Concern Over New Variant 'Omicron'

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