With rapid increase in COVID-19 cases, Assam is preparing to meet the challenge, ramping up infrastructure and manpower to ensure medical treatment of symptomatic as well as asymptomatic patients.
Talking to reporters after a meeting with junior doctors at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Guwahati on July 21, state Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “By middle of August, we will see maximum number of cases in the state. Hence, we are taking all measures to build infrastructure and increase manpower.”
He said that the newly-enrolled PG students of the GMCH will be attached to the COVID care centres as well as COVID hospitals after their admission to meet the need for additional doctors.
He urged the people to adopt all precautions to steer clear of the infection, while also underlining that people can continue with their regular activities by following the health protocols.
On the situation in Guwahati, Sarma said the infection has been spreading and whether the ‘unlock’, which has started from July 20, accelerates the pace or it declines will be known only from next week.
He said the COVID treatment facilities in the city and its outskirts are being ramped up, with COVID care centres for 10,000 patients to be ready by next month.
He said, “For this purpose, we are opening more centres at different educational institutes in and around the city, and also at other public facilities. At GMCH also, we are increasing our patient intake capacity.”
Out of over 25,000 COVID-19 cases in Assam so far, about 12,000 have been reported from Guwahati alone.
