DOOMDOOMA, July 19 - In yet another escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic, 12 more persons, including Tinsukia district Deputy Commissioner Bhaskar Pegu were found COVID-19 positive.
With this, the total number of positive cases in the district has reached 515. All these 12 fresh cases detected in the district have contracted the disease from the community.
Tinsukia DC Bhaskar Pegu�s sample was taken on Friday and his test report came out on Saturday night. But prior to that, the DC attended several programmes and came into contact with many people, including members of the public, people�s representatives, government officials and journalists.
On Saturday afternoon, the DC distributed cheques among the Baghjan victims at his office premises in the presence of MoS for Labour Sanjay Kishan, Tinsukia SP Shiladitya Chetia and OIL officials, besides a few prominent personalities.
Panic obviously struck the people who came into contact with the DC after he tested positive.
In the meantime, the DC has been put on home isolation at his official residence and the entire office premises of the Deputy Commissioner�s establishment has been declared as Containment Zone.
It may be recalled that the Joint Director of Health Services of the district, Dr Altaf Ahmed too tested Covid-positive earlier.
Meanwhile, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma visited Tinsukia today to take stock of the COVID-19 situation in the district.
The Minister visited Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi Civil Hospital in Tinsukia and reviewed the arrangements made, besides seeking updates from doctors about the condition of the patients. He also took stock of the health condition of Sadiya MLA Bolin Chetia, who too was admitted in the hospital after he tested Covid-positive.
Later, the Minister told the local media persons: �The situation in the district is serious, but not out of control�.
The Minister also informed that since he could not have a meeting with the DC and other officials of the district like ADC (Health) and the Joint Director of Health Services as they all tested Covid-positive and were hence physically indisposed, he would arrange a video conference with them soon regarding further steps to be taken on the COVID-19 situation in the district.
