Assam govt announces free pulse oximeter, medicine for Covid-19 patients under home isolation in Guwahati

Guwahati: Stepping up its efforts in the fight against coronavirus pandemic, the Assam government on Sunday announced that it will be providing pulse oximeters and medicines free of cost to the Covid-19 patients under home isolation in Guwahati amid the rising number of infections in the state.

"From tomorrow, we'll provide patient preferring to stay in home isolation a pulse oximeter and first-line supportive medicine completely free in Guwahati," Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Twitter. "We have also activated Tele Medicine service for them through 104, will expand it to other places soon," he added.

The Health Minister further stated a grant event will be organised to felicitate healthcare workers who donated plasma after getting cured of the illness.

"A large number of healthcare workers who got infected by Covid-19 have decided to donate their plasma after getting cured. A grand event is being organised on Monday, August 10 to felicitate them. Reviewed preparations for the same," Sarma said.

Assam's Covid-19 tally rises 57,714

With 2,218 fresh positive cases of coronavirus and eight deaths in the last 24 hours, the total number of infections in Assam has reached 57,714, while the death toll has mounted to 140 in the state, the State Health Minister said today.

Of the eight fatalities, two each were reported from Nalbari and Tinsukia and one each from Morigaon, Kokrajhar, Nagaon and Dibrugarh, Sarma said. He further stated that said 299 new cases were reported from Kamrup Metropolitan district, 165 from Cachar, 150 from Nagaon and 142 from Dibrugarh.

"2,218 Covid-19 cases detected out of 54,845 tests in last 24 hrs. We have managed to maintain low positivity rate of 4.04 per cent, the minister tweeted.

The total number of COVID-19 tests conducted so far in the state is 12,93,712. "1,782 patients have been discharged today. A good number indeed. My best wishes with all recovered patients and their families, Sarma said on Twitter.