GUWAHATI, May 6 - Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi while taking stock of the COVID-19 situation in the State, advised the health department to effectively implement �contact tracing� to arrest the rise of novel coronavirus infection in Assam.
Reviewing the mitigation measures adopted and led by the health and family welfare department in close coordination with other line departments at Raj Bhavan here today, the Governor said with the detection of two more positive cases, � one each in Goalpara and Kokrajhar districts � concerted efforts should be made to aggressively implement contact tracing to arrest the chain of transmission.
Prof Mukhi said since the State was allowed to ease restrictions from May 5 and because of an anticipated further relaxation in days to come to strengthen its sluggish economy, an asymptomatic positive person may spread the infection to several others before he or she is detected as COVID positive. �So, we need to aggressively implement contact tracing to halt further progression of the dreaded virus and break the chain of transmission,� he said.
Prof Mukhi asked the Chief Secretary, the Director General of Police, the Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare and other senior officers of different line departments to sustain their series of good work in the next few months to keep the virus at bay. He also maintained that the situation in Assam in the next 14 days or so would be very crucial in the face of eased restrictions. At such a time, surveillance by the government would be of paramount important. �Our response of mitigation adopted during the lockdown period will have to be replicated and actively exercised during the present times also to track every potential infection and its likely outbreak,� the Governor added.
He also said in spite of the best efforts of the scientific community across the globe, since no vaccination has been developed as of now, social distancing remains the one and only protective tool to keep the virus away. He emphasised the need to enforce social distancing norms in letter and spirit.
During the meeting, the Governor also said that every department should follow the advisories set by the government for adding teeth to the administrative mechanism to win over the virus and save humanity from the threat.
Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna gave a detailed report to the Governor about the COVID-19 situation in the State and about activities of different departments to mitigate the hardships being faced by the people. He also stated that 880 industries have started functioning following full social distancing protocol.
Principal Secretary H&FW Samir Sinha briefed the Governor on the treatment management of COVID-19 and the health infrastructure and safety equipment pressed into service for the frontline personnel engaged in treatment and other allied activities.
Principal Secretary Agriculture Rajesh Prasad said the department has taken steps to reach out to the farmers to mitigate their woes. He also apprised the Governor of another epidemic, the African swine fever, that has hit many districts of the State and of steps taken by the veterinary and animal husbandry department to deal with the situation.
DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta drew the Governor�s attention to different activities carried out by Assam Police. Strict actions are being taken against lockdown violations. Video conferences with all the SPs are being conducted to ensure strict compliance with lockdown norms, he added.
