Assam to revise COVID-19 testing pattern after ICMR advice; plasma therapy to start soon

With Guwahati under total lockdown, Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Wednesday, said Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing pattern in Guwahati will be revised, while addressing a press briefing. He said that Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) had suggested using antigen test kits which produced results within an hour. He added testing model will be launched in coming 2-3 days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah told him that COVID19 situation in Guwahati is very apprehensive.

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Assam to begin antigen testing

Sarma also stated that a plasma bank will be set up in next 4-5 days in Guwahati. This would be functional within next week stated Sarma, adding that Gauhati Medical College already had a plasma separator. Guwahati currently is under 14-day lockdown till July 12.

14-day lockdown in Guwahati begins; prices of essentials shoot up

Assam separates Coronavirus strain

Earlier in day, Regional Medical Research Centre for rast region (ICMR-RMRC, Dibrugarh) situated at Assam's Lahowal. RMRC Lahowal is third government laboratory in country, after NIV (ICMR Lab), Pune and CCMB (CSIR lab), Hyderabad, and 4th lab overall after Bharat Biotech (Pvt Biotechlogy lab at Hyderabad), to isolate virus in tissue culture.  Till w centre has provided almost 50,000 diagstic test reports of COVID-19 in Assam.

Coronavirus strain successfully isolated by RMRC Lahowal

Guwahati under lockdown

A 14-day lockdown in Guwahati came into force on Sunday evening in order to fight rising number of coronavirus cases in city. Kamrup Metropolitan district, under which Guwahati falls, was completely locked down from 7 pm on Sunday till 6 pm on July 12 with even shops of grocery, meat and all or items downing shutters, with only pharmacies allowed to function. Assam has 8227 cases with 2568 active cases, 5647 recovered and 12 deaths.

Centre extends lockdown in containment zones till July 31; Unlock 2 guidelines issued

Lockdown extended till July 31 : Unlock-2

Extending existing Coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown, Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday, issued an order that lockdown on containment zones will continue till July 31. guidelines of 'Unlock 2' prohibits opening of educational institutions, international air travel, metro rail, cinema halls, bars, auditoriums, swimming pools, gymnasiums, and large congregations. MHA has shortened night curfew timing from 10 PM to 5 AM and stated national directives for COVID manment still apply.