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The Assam government has closed the state’s largest hospital, Guwahati Medical College Hospital (GMCH), for new patients after a graduate medical student (PG) was among the eight new positive cases of Covid-19 detected on Thursday.
Assam’s health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made the announcement on Twitter on Friday morning after the student tested positive for Sars-Cov-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease.
“A PG student at GMCH tested positive for Covid last night. Consequently, we have to examine everyone who contacted him and disinfect all GMCH facilities… we have to close the hospital for new patients in the next few days, ”Sarma tweeted.
“Although we are closing the hospital for new patients, special arrangements will be made for already admitted patients and the collection of new swab samples. Request the cooperation and understanding of all in the interest of public security, “he added.
The GMCH shelter where the doctor was staying and another shelter have been declared containment areas, and all residents requested to stay inside.
Three people in Guwahati and four more in Silchar also tested positive, bringing the state count to 53 cases.
The new cases came to light after one of the passengers, a notorious Dhekiajuli car thief in the Sonipur district, tested positive. All other bus passengers and drivers have been placed in quarantine facilities and 11 areas in Silchar declared containment zones.
“The bus arrived at Silchar with permission from the Ajmer district magistrate. Social distancing rules were not followed as it was carrying 42 passengers, “Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said Thursday.
“While other passengers were being asked to be in house quarantine, samples of one of the swabs were taken as a precaution. His samples tested positive. The person has several police cases registered against him, “he added.
The incident has prompted the Assam government to review its home quarantine strategy for people returning to the state after the relaxations allowed by the Union home ministry. Previously, only those showing symptoms had to be quarantined from facilities or tested for Covid-19.
“From now on, all people returning from red zones in other parts of the country will be placed in mandatory quarantine for at least three days (even if they are asymptomatic) until the results of the swab tests are available,” he said. Sarma.
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