Random swab testing will be done in Dhubri, said Himanta Biswa Sarma. (FILE)
The Assam government today decided to step up COVID-19 preparedness in districts bordering West Bengal. The move comes after the Trinamool Congress-ruled state admitted to have 57 coronavirus-related deaths.
The northeast state will start random testing in Dhubri district -- a COVID-19 red zone with five positive cases-- from Saturday onwards. The district shares its border with West Bengal.
"Random swab testing will be done in Dhubri," said Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The state government is also considering to escalate COVID-19 efforts in Kokrajhar, another Assam district bordering West Bengal. The district hasn't reported any coronavirus infections so far.
"Since the COVID situation in Bengal is not good, we will escalate the vigil in the districts sharing border with Bengal. First, we will do random tests in Dhubri. Depending on results, will take a call on similar tests in Kokrajhar, but our vigil has been stepped up" sarma added.
The West Bengal government, while revealing 57 COVID-19 patients had died, asserted that 39 of these deaths were due to comorbidities.
A central inter-ministerial team had asked for details from the death audit committee and raised questions over West Bengal's coronavirus figures.
World
67,69,38,430Cases
62,55,71,965Active
4,44,81,893Recovered
68,84,572Deaths
Coronavirus has spread to 200 countries. The total confirmed cases worldwide are 67,69,38,430 and 68,84,572 have died; 62,55,71,965 are active cases and 4,44,81,893 have recovered as on January 9, 2024 at 10:54 am.
India
4,50,19,214 475Cases
3,919 -83Active
4,44,81,893 552Recovered
5,33,402 6Deaths
In India, there are 4,50,19,214 confirmed cases including 5,33,402 deaths. The number of active cases is 3,919 and 4,44,81,893 have recovered as on January 9, 2024 at 8:00 am.
State & District Details