GUWAHATI, July 17 - According to a projection by the Government of India, there could be 65,000 COVID-19 cases in Assam by August 31. Revealing this at Nagaon today, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today said that of the 65,000 cases projected in the State, 32,000 would be in Guwahati alone.
�We got this communication yesterday. However, I am not sure on what basis the projection was made. Our health officials are holding a meeting on it,� Sarma, who began an Upper Assam tour today, said.
The Health Minister, however, said while the city is recording around 500 cases every day, the figure could go up to 2,500 by August 15.
�The situation has changed now. Earlier we saw asymptomatic patients. Now, we are getting more and more critical cases, like those in Delhi and Mumbai. There are 400 serious patients in GMCH today. The oxygen level of the patients are plummeting. We are formulating a strategy to deal with the new situation,� he said.
The Health Minister also claimed that the �aggressive treatment� policy followed by the doctors here has resulted in the low mortality rate in the State.
Meanwhile, the health department today launched a campaign in the social media seeking plasma donors.
�If you had symptoms and recovered from COVID-19, then you can save a life by donating your convalescent plasma. A critical COVID-19 patient needs your plasma to fight off the virus. My earnest appeal to all recovered symptomatic people to donate convalescent plasma and save a life,� the minister said in a social media message.
Meanwhile, Sunil Roy (75) from Kamrup Metro admitted at GMCH succumbed to COVID-19 this evening.
On the other hand, 80-year-old Anima Boro was discharged from GMCH after testing negative. She was critically ill during hospitalization.
