Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on May 30 said that the COVID-19 situation in the state should “improve drastically by June 7”.
Speaking to mediapersons after visiting the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital in Guwahati, Sarma said that there is strong possibility of COVID positivity and mortality rates coming down rapidly in the state by June 7 and the state government is leaving no stone unturned to control the pandemic.
CM Sarma took stock of the COVID-19 treatment infrastructure and other related issues at the hospital.
He informed that there was a discussion on deputing doctors in the 300-bed COVID hospital being set up by DRDO at Sarusajai Sports Complex in Guwahati and the additional 200 ICU beds unit coming up at GMCH with the hospital authorities and senior doctors.
“Coming up of additional 500 ICU beds in Guwahati would greatly strengthen the COVID treatment system and posting doctors at the facilities remain a top priority for ensuring quality treatment,” he said.
Informing that Assam would receive 7 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccine in June, the chief minister said that inoculation drive of 18-44 age group people will speed up in the state after receiving the doses. He exuded confidence that a sizeable portion of state’s population would be provided jabs by August 15.
The chief minister said that GMCH has started administering DRDO’s 2-DG anti-COVID drug on 13 patients at the hospital while options are also being explored to use other such breakthrough drugs to reduce the hospital stay period of COVID-19 patients.
He also thanked the people and organisations for contributing wholeheartedly to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to make the vaccination drive truly a ‘jana andolan’ (mass movement).
Chief minister Sarma also enquired with the doctors about the health condition of Rajya Sabha MP Ripun Bora and MLA Pradip Hazarika, who are undergoing treatment for COVID at GMCH.
