No COVID-19 Testing for passengers from March across Assam

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: In a great relief for the passengers to the State, COVID-19 test will not be mandatory in airports and railway stations across the State from March 1, 2021. However, the State government maintains that people should adhere to COVID-appropriate behaviour.

Such a decision has been taken based on two major developments in the State – drastic fall in the number of COVID-19 positive cases and smooth sailing of the vaccination drive.

On this count, State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "In view of rapidly declining cases of COVID-19, and given that the vaccination drive that is in full swing, the State government has decided to discontinue mandatory testing at the airports, railway stations and roads from March 1. It is, however, expected that people would adhere to COVID-appropriate behaviour."

On the vaccination drive, the Minister said that till Wednesday 1.10 lakh people were vaccinated through 2,399 sessions. According to sources, only 64 cumulative minor cases of AEFIs (Adverse Events Following Immunization) were reported till Tuesday.

An AEFI is any unexpected medical occurrence which follows immunization. However, such occurrences may or may not be related to the vaccine or the vaccination drive.

According to department sources, till Tuesday as many as 959 people have been vaccinated in Kamrup (M), followed by Cachar with 867. Vaccinations in a few of the other districts are 317 in Karbi Anglong, 444 in Lakhimpur, 419 in Sonitpur, 493 in Tinsukia, 302 in Darrang, 314 in Jorhat etc.

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