Assam considering fresh curbs as Covid cases increase after Durga Puja

Assam recorded 353 Covid cases on Tuesday and the test positivity rate was at 0.89%. Compared to this, a day before the Durga Puja on October 10, it had recorded 160 cases of infections and a positivity rate of 0.64%

Published on: Oct 20, 2021, 16:06:20 IST

By Utpal Parashar

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With the state recording a marginal rise in Covid-19 cases post-Durga Puja celebrations, the Assam government is considering fresh restrictions if the trend does not stop in the next few days.

Apart from 10 pm to 5 am curfew, most Covid 19 containment restrictions have been relaxed in Assam since September this year. (PTI Photo)

The government allowed the celebrations subject to safety protocols and vaccination of visitors and the organisers. But officials said the restrictions were not strictly enforced.

The state on Tuesday recorded 353 cases with a test positivity rate of 0.89%. On October 10, a day before the Durga Puja, the state recorded 160 infections and a positivity rate of 0.64%. No deaths were recorded on Tuesday.

“On Monday, we had a meeting with the chief minister to discuss the scenario after Durga Puja...we decided on some measures. We will study the situation further for the next few days and take some decisions within a week,” said health minister Keshav Mahanta on Tuesday. “What the measures would be and how strict the fresh guidelines will be clear only after seeing the graph over the next two to four days.”

Also Read | Assam: 2 arrested in Cachar for defacing hoardings written in Assamese

The government allowed the resumption of offline classes for primary and elementary students from Tuesday. Physical classes for other school students were allowed from September.

The campaigning for by-elections to five assembly seats on October 30 is also underway.

Apart from 10 pm to 5 am curfew, most restrictions in the state have been relaxed since September.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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