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The death toll due to COVID-19 in Assam continued to mount, while the virus spread across the state, infecting top officials in Dispur to jail inmates in different parts, among others.

Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed that Hira Devi (45) from Kamrup Metro district and Pradip Kumar Sharma (75), a physician from Tinsukia, have succumbed to COVID-19, as per the report of Death Audit Board of Assam.

The death toll has now reached 48 in the state, with the tally increasing every day for the last nearly one week.

The overall COVID-19 tally in the state has touched 18,666 with 859 new cases in the last 24 hours, while the number of recovered patients stands at 12,173.

The health minister held a video conference with DCs, medical superintendents and doctors to discuss the current situation on July 15.

Sarma informed that the ‘threat perception’ was analysed during the conference and if the containment measures are being adhered to in right spirit was also discussed, among other issues.

As the virus spread among more people, among the infected includes several senior officers of the state, including a couple of IAS officers and senior staff of the CM secretariat at Dispur.

The state secretariat has been fully sanitised following the detection of the cases, with entry of visitors totally prohibited, official sources said.

Only skeletal staff is working and all SOPs related with COVID-19 have been put in place in the secretariat.

Among the Assam Police personnel, 654 personnel have tested positive till date, out of whom 287 have recovered and 17 have already rejoined duty after recovery.

Sarma, along with health department officials, on July 15 visited the Guwahati Central Jail where the cases of COVID-19 have been increasing.

He reviewed the medical and other facilities, and also instructed the officials to ensure best medical care, food and other facilities to the inmates.

Besides the cases in Guwahati Central Jail, several COVID-19 positive cases have also been confirmed from Golaghat Jail.

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