Image: Northeast Now

Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday visited Kokrajhar and held meeting with district administration on the present COVID-19 situation and quarantine centres.

Sarma held meeting with senior officers of Kokrajhar district at deputy commissioner’s conference hall and took stock of COVID-19 positive cases and quarantine centres.

The meeting was also attended by Rajya Sabha MP Biswajit Daimary, MLAs Rabiram Narzary and Majen Narzary, BTC IGP Anurag Agarwal and others.

Accompanied by Rajya Sabha Daimary, the minister also visited Parbhatjhora sub division soon after returning from Dhubri.

Talking ro news persons, Sarma said 3000 returnees from different parts of the country were being housed in various quarantine centres in Kokrajhar district.

He said people returning home from other states will have to go to quarantine centres and sample collection would be made within 4/8 days.

The detection of positive cases in Kokrajhar is reducing, he said adding that the State has high hopes to overcome the deadly pandemic giving facilitation to all positive cases.

Replying to a question, Sarma said there was nothing to fear even if people come out in the open as usual after declaration of Unlock 1.0 if they strictly follow social distancing of 2-metres, wearing of mask and other guidelines.

He said there was no necessity of putting flight passengers in quarantine centre if they come in the morning and go back in the evening.

On the educational side, Sarma said he wanted to start the classes of at least class X and XII but it will depend upon the guidelines of Ministry of Home Ministry.

He also said there was no government decision for restriction of people returning home from other states after June 10 but as per guidelines, they must be put in quarantine centres for 14 days while violators would be taken action as per rules.

Rinoy Basumatary is Northeast Now Correspondent in Kokrajhar. He can be reached at: [email protected]