The COVID19 tests of teachers and non-teaching staff of schools and colleges began in Dibrugarh district from Tuesday.
The tests are being carried out across the state following a directive from Assam health and education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
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Sarma directed that teachers and employees of all educational institutions in Assam, from primary school to universities, will be tested for COVID19, and those found negative will have to rejoin work on September 1.
He warned that leave without pay would be implemented is any teacher or other employee fails to join duty on the stipulated date.
In Dibrugarh district, a total of 7,527 teachers and staff members will have to undergo the RT-PCR Covid19 tests.
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Among them are 3,427 teachers and employees of 1,565 primary, Middle English and tea garden schools, 2,900 teachers and staff of high and higher secondary schools and 1,200 teachers and staff of 13 colleges and 20 junior colleges.
A total of 20 health teams have been formed to carry out the tests.
Dibrugarh additional deputy commissioner (health) Dipu Kumar Deka said the COVID19 tests of teachers and staff will continue till August 28.
He said there was sufficient stock of testing kits and PPE kits in the district.
As on August 24, the total number of COVID19 cases registered in Dibrugarh district reached 6,476 including 32 deaths.
The district’s mortality rate is 0.49%.
The total number of active COVID19 cases stands at 2,394 while the recovery rate stands at 62.21% with 4,029 recoveries.
So far, 66,986 samples have been tested and the rate of test per thousand people stands at 45.
A total of 911 positive patients are in home isolation while another 886 patients are in hospitals and Covid Care Centres.