ASSAM TACKLES COVID-19 ON WAR FOOTING

In a bid to persuade people who are hiding after attending the Tablighi Jamaat event at Nizamuddin, Assam health minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Sunday, said that he personally met the head of the Guwahati Lakhtokia masjid and requested him to share the list of all who were at the Delhi event.

Stressing that it was necessary to quarantine them, the minister said that they could be silent carriers of coronavirus. The Lakhtokia masjid is the headquarter of Tablighi Jamaat in Assam.

One more person who visited the Delhi event tested positive in Cachar district, taking the total number of Covid-19 positive cases in the state to 26.

The minister who visited Goalapara where three Covid19 positive patients are admitted also expressed his gratitude towards the Akshay Patra Foundation, which, on Sunday, donated 5000 essential grocery kits, each weighing 12.6 kgs, for the 21-day lockdown.

After taking stock of the situation in western Assam, the minister said that they are expecting reports on 105 samples late on Sunday evening.

Informing that the 26th case was of Sazibur Rahman, of Silchar, the minister said that only 20 per cent of the infected persons show early symptoms. “We need to quarantine all those who have come in contacts with Covid-19 positive patients. Meanwhile, the Assam health department has introduced yoga therapy to motivate and refresh the minds of

Covid-19 positive patients during the treatment in isolation. Saying that patients are motivated to practice yoga, the hospital authorities said that experts are guiding them through video conference.

It was introduced in the Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital in Guwahati. The authorities said yoga therapy among the patients has been introduced as part of the necessary steps for physical and mental well-being of patients.