Assam chief minister Himanta Bishwa Sarma on Tuesday visited the Assam-Bengal inter-state borders at Chagoloia and Srirampur and took the stock of the Covid19 preparedness there.

Speaking on this occasion, the Assam CM said although the positivity rate in the state is under control, the rising number of deaths due to Covid19 is still a matter of concern.

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“The Covid-infected people will not be subjected to home isolation. But only those infected persons will be allowed to stay in home who have a separate room and toilet at their respective premises,” the Assam chief minister told reporters.

He said this after inspecting the Assam-Bengal inter-state border at Chagolia in Dhubri district on Tuesday.

The Assam chief minister was accompanied by health minister Keshab Mahanta.

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Sarma directed the Dhubri district administration to increase the number of RT-PCR tests up to 600 to 700 on daily basis throughout the district and to declare micro containment zones in those areas where the number of Covid19 infected people are found in maximum number.

In reply to a question on non-availability of ICU at Dhubri Civil Hospital, the Assam CM said he is aware about the facts and said his priority is to complete the Dhubri Medical College by the end of this year or in the beginning of the new year.

“The health minister will shortly visit the Dhubri district in a bid to make Dhubri Medical College operational at the earliest and once the medical college starts functioning, all the medical crises would be resolved automatically,” said Sarma.

The chief minister said the curfew hours in rural areas will be from 2 pm to 5 am which was earlier from 6 pm to 5 am.

Meanwhile, a total of 14,306 people have so far been tested at the Chagolia inter-state border since April 24 to May 25, of which 528 tested Covid19 positive including 465 male, 61 female and 2 transgender.

Dhubri health officials said out of the 528 positive cases detected at Chagolia inter-state border, 271 people have been sent for home isolation and 153 admitted to different Covid care centres while 104 persons have been handed over to the West Bengal authority.

Chief Minister Sarma and health minister Keshab Mahanta also visited the Srirampur inter-state border in Kokrajhar district and took stock of the situation.

In reply to a query that people from outside the state in the age group of 18-44 are taking Covid19 vaccine in Assam, the chief minister said he would immediately take step on the issue.

He also informed that with a view to ensure that there is no shortage of essential commodities and medicines in the state, Covid19 test of drivers of goods carriers are being conducted at their final destinations only.

During their visit to the inter-state border at Srirampur, Assam chief minister Sarma and health minister Mahanta were accompanied by Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) chief executive member (CEM) Pramod Boro.

Chief minister Sarma also took stock of the arrangements put in place for screening of the incoming passengers and their testing as well other Covid control measures.