The Assam government has reserved Sonapur Civil hospital in Guwahati and closed down the eye hospital in Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) to exclusively treat coronavirus (COVID-19) cases.
Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on March 32rd, 2020 said that the OPD in Sonapur civil hospital will remain closed.
The government is also likely to convert the Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital in Guwahati to a complete coronavirus treatment hospital.
The eye patients of the GMCH have been referred to the Srimanta Sankardeva Netralaya in Guwahati. “We have also restricted OPD services in all medical colleges,” Sarma said.
No positive Covid-19 case has been identified in the Assam so far. However, Northeast’s first positive coronavirus case has been reported in Manipur.
The Assam government has also directed the Deputy Commissioner of all districts to identify the hostels of educational institutes and hotels for isolation of mild patients.
Sarma had also mentioned that the Assam government is also planning to provide free rice to 51.39 lakh families under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) from April 1st, 2020.
The Assam government has announced complete lockdown from 6 pm, March 24th, 2020 till March 31st, 2020 (midnight) in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Sarma said essential services like pharmacies, medical, water supply, banking, and petrol pumps would be exempted from the purview of the lockdown. The states borders will be sealed and vehicles carrying essential items will only be allowed to ply.
Amid anxiety buying and hoarding of daily essentials, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has directed the Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police to ensure there is no shortage of essential commodities in the state.
Sonowal also appealed the people of the state to cooperate during the lockdown.
Photo credit: @himantabiswa
