GUWAHATI, April 17 - Asserting that Assam�s COVID-19 containment strategy is on track, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today said the State government is contemplating on allowing a one-time inter-district movement of people after April 20.
�People are stranded in different districts and unable to either return to their homes or workplaces. The government is contemplating on allowing these people to move on a particular day after April 20 if the situation remains same,� Sarma said.
However, the commuters will not be allowed to return.
Sarma said names of around 4 lakh people stranded outside the State have been registered with the government.
�If we assume that each person has on an average two more family members with them, the total number of stranded people will be around 10-12 lakh,� he said, and added that if they are allowed to come from the COVID-19 hotspots, there could be a serious situation in the State.
�We are devising a strategy as to how to bring them, how to screen them and keep them in quarantine,� he said.
The Health Minister said in case the State enters the stage of community transmission, there could be a �serious situation�.
Reiterating that the PPEs imported from China are of high quality with the medical fraternity here acknowledging it, Sarma said the entire world, including countries like US are getting the equipment from the neighbouring country.
�One lot which came as donation may have failed safety tests, but that does not mean all are of poor quality. We are procuring all the equipment from approved firms. Only in China, the industries are opening and there is no other option from where you can bring them,� Sarma said, adding that the state would also get some PPEs from a consignment of 3.5 lakh kits ordered by the Government of India.
