Assam’s New Strategy To Manage Coronavirus Includes Free Oximeters And Medicines For COVID Patients Isolating At Home

New Delhi: Assam has confirmed over 60,000 cases of coronavirus. While more than 42,000 people have recovered in the state, over 16,000 cases remain active. To manage the caseload, the Assam government is pushing for mild and moderate patients to quarantine at home. With the aim to encourage these patients in Guwahati to opt for home isolation, the state government is providing free medication and pulse oximeters, a non-invasive method of measuring oxygen levels in the blood. Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma shared the announcement on his twitter on Sunday, August 9, he tweeted,

“From tomorrow (Monday), we will provide patients preferring to stay in home isolation a pulse oximeter and first-line supportive medicine free in Guwahati city.”

From tomorrow, we will provide patient preferring to stay in home isolation a pulse oximeter and first-line supportive medicine completely free in Guwahati City. We have also activated the Tele Medicine service for them through 104. will expand it further to other places soon.

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) August 9, 2020

Also Read: Assam Government Announces Weekend Lockdown Until August 14, Here’s What Is Allowed and What’s Not

COVID-19 patients in the state capital will also benefit from a telemedicine service that will slowly be expanded to other cities and towns, the health minister added.

We have also activated the Tele Medicine service for them through the number 104. will expand it further to other places soon.

In June, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, also implemented a similar measure, following by his claim in July that not even a single COVID-19 patient in home isolation had died in June.

The Assam government recently has been intensifying their plasma donation campaign, with Mr Sarma highlighting the encouraging impact of plasma treatment on COVID-19 patients.

In July, the state had also announced free airfare and stay for any recovered COVID-19 patients who are eligible to donate plasma, to donate in the state and help save lives.

The state has also announced a weekend lockdown until August 14, wherein any movement during the weekend will be prohibited.

Also Read: Spike In COVID-19 Cases Expected, Ready To Deal With It: Assam Health Minister

Assam has recorded almost 150 deaths in the state, but the worrying part is the ongoing spike, with more than 2,000 cases being reported in the state every day. A health department official tells NDTV, that the spike in the cases could be attributed to the ease in the lockdown and therefore, the decision of weekend lockdown was taken by the authorities.

The spike comes as the state opens up shopping malls, restaurants and gyms in line with the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Unlock guidelines, he said.

However, he said that the state was lauded by Indian Council of Medical Research, as one of the best prepared in the early days of the pandemic.

The official also informed NDTV that Assam has conducted over 11 lakh COVID tests so far, with almost 60,000 tests being conducted on a daily basis.

Between July 16 and August 8 the positivity rate has come down from 18 per cent to 4.5 per cent in Guwahati. The number of positive cases are also coming down in the city, Mr Sarma said shared in a tweet.

Here are two trends of COVID cases in Guwahati in between 16th July to 8th August. Positivity rate has come down from 18% to 4.5%. The number of positive cases per day is also slowing down. Need to maintain this trend for a few more weeks pic.twitter.com/bjLq7y37XC

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) August 9, 2020

Also Read: 14,000 People In Assam Become ‘Pratirodhi Bandhu’ To Help The State Fighting Against Coronavirus

Need to maintain this trend for a few more weeks, he added.

Assam has one of the lowest mortality rates in the country – at less than 1 per cent – and one of the highest recovery rates – around 70 per cent. The national averages are around 2 per cent and 68 per cent, respectively.

NDTV – Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign is an extension of the five-year-old Banega Swachh India initiative helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention through vaccines. Importance of programmes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. Only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene.