State stares at disaster sans social distancing, says Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma

Assembly expresses concern over coronavirus outbreak, cuts short Budget session

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Assam Assembly on Tuesday expressed grave concern over the fast-spreading of a novel coronavirus in the country with the Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma sounding a warning that the State would head towards a disaster in case the public, in general, do not follow the precautionary measures to prevent the fatal virus taking an epidemic form.

Sarma informed the House that even though the State Government has pulled all its resources to effectively tackle the situation, the situation might go out of control if the public do not cooperate by social distancing and adopt other safety steps such as frequent handwash.

“We have imposed the lockdown to minimize the risk of people getting infected by the virus. Unofficially I have been pressurized to clamp curfew in the State to ensure complete social isolation. I sincerely hope and pray that the lockdown becomes a total success. If the present situation lingers, the State will face various problems. From the next month there will be cases of Japanese Encephalitis where the mortality rate is 95%. From May or June the floods will start occurring in the State. The State will face disasters in chains. So, let us firmly resolve to control coronavirus first,” Sarma said.

Asking the people not to hide symptoms of their ailments, Sarma said that the doctors, nurses and other Health workers are prepared and upbeat to treat the infected persons. He added that presently the State has 2,000 protection kits for doctors, nurses and other staffs to treat the patients afflicted by corona. The number of such kits will be enhanced up to 20,000. The Minister admitted that there might be a shortage of certain other medical equipments as the State has to depend on other States for such machineries. “We are leaving no stone unturned to ensure all possible care to the patients. We have even kept chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine drugs ready as global researches have demonstrated the effectiveness of such drugs to cure COVID-19 patients,” Sarma pointed out.

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