Senior Assam Officials, Quarantined After Contact With COVID-19 Patient, Test Negative

Two senior officials in Assam's Morigaon district, who were quarantined after they came in contact with a COVID-19 patient, have tested negative for the deadly virus. Samples were taken from the officials - Deputy Commissioner and a Superintendent of Police - and the results were disclosed today by Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Twitter.

On Thursday the district had reported two fresh COVID-19 cases; both were secondary contacts of a patient who had returned from a religious gathering held by Islamic sect Tablighi Jamaat at Delhi's Markaz Nizamuddin last month.

The senior officials met the COVID-19 patient at a gathering in the Bhurbandha Lahorighat area of the district on March 31, before the novel coronavirus infection was confirmed.

"The Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Superintendent of Police (SP) of Morigaon district have been sent to quarantine as they came in contact with a coronavirus positive patient," Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Assam Health Minister had tweeted.

Contract history of DC/SP of Morigaon with the now turned positive person is more than 14 days old. As per protocol, their test samples are being collected today result of which would be known by this evening. Request my friends in Media not to speculate @sarbanandsonwal

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) April 17, 2020

Apart from Deputy Commissioner Rituraj Bora and Superintendent of Police Swapnil Deka, a group of journalists have also been quarantined; the reporters had met the officials at the district hospital earlier.

The total number of coronavirus cases in Assam is now 34, with one death linked to the virus. Five have been discharged after receiving treatment. Morigaon district has reported six cases so far and has been declared a coronavirus hotspot.

Assam has moved to boost health infrastructure and reserves of medical staff and equipment ahead of an explosion of COVID-19 cases in the state.

On Wednesday night it became the first state to receive PPE (personal protection equipment) kits from China; a cargo plane carrying 50,000 kits flew from directly from Guangzhou to Guwahati.

The state government has set itself a target of two lakh PPE kits, health department sources said. Before the flight from China, the state had around one lakh, and before the coronavirus outbreak, it had just 10.

Among other steps taken so far are transforming two stadiums, including the Saru Sojai Stadium in Guwahati, into makeshift quarantine facilities with a total of 2,000 beds and ensuring that all 33 districts have designated treatment centres for coronavirus patients.

India has over 11,000 active COVID-19 cases so far, with 437 deaths linked to the virus. 1,749 people have been discharged after receiving treatment.

With input from PTI