BJP Leader Himanta Biswa Sarma is Assam’s Minister of Health (Archive)
Guwahati:
Assam’s minister and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma responded on Sunday morning after his comment: “There is no Covid in Assam … (so) there is no need to wear a mask,” sparked a discussion.
“Those who are mocking my statement on the masks should come to Assam and see how we have contained COVID-19, compared to states like Delhi, Kerala and Maharashtra … along with an impressive recovery of the economy,” he tweeted.
“We will celebrate Bihu also with the same enthusiasm this year,” he added.
Those who are scoffing at my statement on the mask should come to Assam and see how we have contained COVID-19 compared to states like Delhi, Kerala and Maharashtra, along with the impressive recovery of our economy. the same enthusiasm this year
– Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) April 4, 2021
On Saturday Sarma, who is the state health minister, had said: “There is no Covid in Assam … there is no need to wear a mask now in Assam … If necessary, I will inform the people … “
The comment, made to a reporter for online news website The Lallantop, came on a day when India recorded nearly 90,000 new Covid cases in 24 hours, the most in a day since mid-September.
Assam’s share of that increase is minimal (68 new cases and no deaths), but the alarming rate at which the virus is spreading elsewhere (the positivity rate has soared from 2.2% four weeks ago to 7.1% today) and more infectious strains has worried the center enough for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lead a high-level meeting this morning.
Among those who responded to Sarma, who received her first dose of Covid vaccine early last month, was Shiv Sena’s Priyanka Chaturvedi.
“We have the first state in the country … or rather the world … whose Minister of Health has declared it free from Covid and has advised not to follow Covid masks (or) protocols … We must all celebrate the feat and get the WHO (World Health Organization) approve it. ” she tweeted.
We have the first state in the country or rather the world whose Minister of Health has declared it free of COVID and has advised that no masks or COVID protocols are needed to follow. We must all celebrate the feat and get WHO to back it! I urge GoI to do what it takes!
– Priyanka Chaturvedi (@ priyankac19) April 4, 2021
Sarma’s comment contradicts the rules, which include wearing face masks outdoors and the need to practice social distancing, set by the center to contain the virus.
Face masks have also been strongly recommended by global health agencies such as the WHO and the governments of other countries, even for those who show no symptoms or have received the vaccine.
Assam has been widely praised for its ability, so far, to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
However, with the state holding elections for the Assembly, the third and final phase taking place on Tuesday, the sight of thousands of people without masks and standing shoulder to shoulder at election rallies is a source of concern, and many they are wary of a renewed wave of infections in the coming weeks.
.
