Will use donations to buy COVID vaccines: Himanta Biswa Sarma

State cases 1,93,387

Active 29,221

Discharged 1,63,352

Death 811

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Health & Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said that all public donations for the COVID-19 battle have been kept aside to purchase vaccines to eradicate the virus.

Sarma said that his department has so far received Rs 170 crores from the public under the Assam Arogya Nidhi (ANN). He added that people and various organizations donated money to ANN to help the government in its fight against COVID.

"The public donations have not been touched. It has been kept aside to purchase vaccines against COVID," he said.

The Minister also stated that the State Government has been spending crores in providing free treatment to COVID patients, testing suspected virus carriers, keeping people in the COVID Care Centres and hospitals.

Sarma further said that the COVID-positive cases in the State are declining now. He, however, said the declining trend will continue as long as the people follow the safety protocols such as wearing of face masks, maintaining social distance and frequent washing of hands.

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