The Assam government on Sunday admitted that community spread of Covid-19 has taken place in the state’s biggest city, Guwahati and the rest of Kamrup Metro district and the ongoing total lockdown to control the pandemic might be extended.
“In the last 10 days we have recorded 2,741 positive cases in Guwahati and the rest of Kamrup Metro. Almost all of these cases are from community transmission,” state health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said while addressing a press conference on Sunday.
“We have formally entered the Covid-19 pandemic since June 24 and can no longer blame Karnataka, Mumbai, Tamil Nadu or Delhi (from where returnees came back during May and June) for Covid-19 spread in our state,” he added.
Following a surge in cases without any travel or contact history, the Assam government had imposed a 14-day total lockdown in Kamrup Metro from June 28, allowing only pharmacies to operate.
But with the number of cases not coming down in the first 7 days, Sarma indicated that the lockdown might get extended after the 14-day period on July 12 depending on the existing scenario.
“Extension of lockdown in Kamrup Metro depends on the number of cases. We might have to extend it by another week. There will be a need to find a balance between allowing economic activity and risking lives of people,” he said.
The minister informed that a plasma bank has become operational in Guwahati Medical College Hospital and a doctor who has recovered from Covid-19 was the first donor. The health department has also started administering Remdesivir, an anti-viral drug, to Covid-19 patients with serious complications.
-Inputs from agencies