Every Covid-19 patient will be considered having Omicron variant, announced Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma
HT, New Delhi: As Covid cases continued to increase, Assam on Friday decided to impose night curfew from Saturday and a fine of up to ₹25,000 for owner of a public place for allowing un-vaccinated person from January 15. Every Covid-19 patient will be considered having Omicron variant, announced state chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that henceforth all COVID19 cases in the state would be considered as those of Omicron variant. Addressing media in Guwahati, he said since December 27 there has been a surge in new COVID19 cases (on Thursday the state recorded 844 new cases and total 9 Omicron cases) and hence stricter measures were needed to control spread of the disease. Sarma said that as per government calculations, between January 20 and January 30, Assam will have nearly as many cases during the peak of the second wave last year (around 6500 cases in a day).
“We assess that this time the peak might be anywhere between 10,000 to 12,000 or maybe more,” he said. The CM informed that testing would be increased from 30,000 daily at present to nearly 100,000 daily. There will be compulsory testing in airports and railway stations of incoming passengers who are non-vaccinated or have taken single dose. Those below 15 years will also have to undergo compulsory testing on arrival, he added.
From Saturday, night curfew timings will be there from 10 pm to 6 am. Wearing of masks in public places is mandatory and police have been instructed to impose fines on those found violating new restrictions.
“Except hospitals, one will have to be fully vaccinated to visit any other public place from January 15. If un-vaccinated people enter public places, owners of those places will have to pay fine of up to ₹25,000,” said Sarma. Nearly 5.5 million eligible recipients in the state are yet to take their second dose of vaccination and the restrictions we will be imposing will affect this segment, he added.
