From Bhupen Goswami
GUWAHATI : In view of the rising cases of COVID-19 in the state, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today discussed the situation with Health Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma over phone. He also held a video conference with the Deputy Commissioners and reviewed various aspects of the COVID-19 response in the districts. The Chief Minister directed the DCs to take approximate measures to control price rise of essential goods and medicines. He also asked the DCs to regularly visit the hospitals to review COVID situation and check whether medicines supplied by the government were adequately available in the hospitals.
The Chief Minister stressed on generating more awareness on COVID-19 among people. He also suggested to inform the public about the situation in the districts daily in a bid to sensitise them about the gravity of the situation. The Chief Minister further asked the DCs to take joint measures in consultation with tea garden management to control spread of COVID-19 in the garden areas. He also directed the DCs to fix rates of essential commodities in consultation with chambers of commerce besides asking APDCL to maintain regular supply of electricity during this critical period and sanitization of weekly markets by the administration.
The Chief Minister also directed the health department to take all possible measures to curb COVID infection and augmenting health infrastructure to deal with the present crisis. He also advocated to work with ‘Team Assam’ spirit to boost the morale of the health care workers and frontline workers. The DCs while taking part in the video conference informed the Chief Minister about the measures taken in their respective districts for control and treatment of COVID-19 patients including COVID vaccination, setting up of COVID care centres, availability of ICU beds, Oxygen etc. The superintendents of the medical colleges informed the Chief Minister about the steps taken for strengthening infrastructure for COVID treatment in the medical colleges.
The Joint Directors of Health Services also apprised the Chief Minister about various steps taken by the department. Principal Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Sameer Kumar Sinha while attending the VC informed the Chief Minister about the present status of COVID-19 patients, availability of Oxygen and its storage capacity, ICU beds, COVID testing etc. The Chief Minister asked the Principal Secretary to prepare a road map to ensure availability of oxygen to meet any COVID related emergency situation. Chief Minister’s Media Adviser Hrishikesh Goswami, Chief Minister’s Legal Adviser Shantanu Bharali, Chief Secretary Jishnu Baruah, DGP Bhaskarjyoti Mahanta, Chief Minister’s Additional Chief Secretary Paban Kumar Borthakur and other senior government officials were present in today’s video conference.
