Normalising all activities will be the main objective for Assam government as the phase-wise opening of lockdown begins across the country from June 1, adhering to ‘unlock guidelines’ issued by the central government.
Addressing a press conference in Guwahati on May 31, Assam Health and Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “We cannot be only COVID-centric, we have to go beyond that. Normalising is our theme. We have to learn to co-exist with COVID-19.”
He said the detailed guidelines for the state will be issued on June 1, which will be in line with the rules laid out by the Centre.
He said, “We are in the same page with the central government. The Centre has accepted our recommendations, like opting for containment zones, curfew from 9 pm, and phase-wise opening of educational institutions.”
“Our biggest challenge will be how to vacate the schools and colleges which are being used as quarantine centres for returnees,” Sarma, who is also education minister of the state, added.
He further said, “We are not nervous as we go to unlock phase as we have found no community transmission case, particularly in the rural areas.”
The minister added that the state government is developing Standard Operation Procedures on how floods and COVID-19 can be tackled together.
Altogether 1272 COVID-19 cases have been detected in the state, while 185 patients have recovered and four others have died so far.
