GUWAHATI, May 15 - The Machkhowa branch of Allahabad Bank in Guwahati has been sealed and its staff quarantined after it emerged that some of the COVID-19 patients detected in Fancy Bazar had visited the financial institution for transaction.
�Some COVID-19 positive patients have recently transacted money at Allahabad Bank, Machkhowa Branch. Hence, in the interest of maintenance of public hygiene and to prevent further spread of COVID-19 virus, all kinds of transactions as well as administrative functions of the bank is hereby prohibited with immediate effect,� an administration order said.
The branch head has been asked to suspend all kinds of activities immediately and the officials of the branch will be home quarantined till their swab test reports are done. Samples are being collected from all the bank officials.
Sixteen persons had tested COVID-19 positive in and around Fancy Bazar. Swab samples of around 390 of their contacts were taken and sent for tests at RMRC Lahowal. The results are likely to be known by tonight or tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the Gauhati Medical College & Hospital (GMCH) will resume its normal functioning from tomorrow.
�I visited GMCH to discuss the reopening from tomorrow. We�ve taken 2,200 samples of doctors, nurses, staff and people in surrounding areas and all have tested negative. In view of this, we�re resuming operations. The surrounding containment zone has been freed,� Sarma said.
The Regional Dental College Hostel remains as containment zone as the results of the second test of the boarders are yet to arrive. On the other hand, one more COVID-19 patient, after testing negative successively, has been discharged from SMCH today taking the total number of recovered patients to 41.
