Following the detection of 143 Covid cases in Zaloni tea estate, 60 positive cases were detected in Mayajan tea estate in Dibrugarh’s Tengakhat area in the last 24 hours forcing the district administration to initiate strict measures to curb the spread of the disease. Already the health department has begun vaccination drive in various tea gardens of the district apart from conducting contact tracing. Another 2 Covid patients were detected at Balijan North tea estate in Panitola area of Dibrugarh. All positive patients have been admitted to government quarantine centres while sanitisation of all labour lines, hospital, factory and community centers inside the tea gardens are being carried out on war footing.
Deputy commissioner Pallav Gopal Jha has already declared Zaloni tea garden as a containment zone and all entry and exit points to the garden has been sealed. The tea garden has been closed down following the surge in cases. has ordered closure of all leased weekly haats and markets under Tengakhat Development block in Dibrugarh district with immediate effect. The deputy commissioner has also instructed the concerned Circle officers and Block Development Officers to take steps to close all such markets in their respective areas if the situation demands.
“We are keeping a close watch on the situation in the tea gardens. Medical teams are providing services round the clock. RATs and RTPCR tests are being carried out daily along with vaccination,” deputy commissioner Pallav Gopal Jha on Friday said.
From Thursday, the Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) has decided to close the OPD (Out Patient Department) for a period of 2 weeks with immediate effect and until further order. However, during the period, regular emergency services will continue as before round the clock. The step has been taken to depute the medical team in Covid wards. As per hospital sources, the number of regular patients in OPD has decreased in last few days in view of covid situation.
Further, during the period all staff of AMCH has been directed to remain present in their respective department for rendering their services.
As per official sources, Assam Medical College and Hospital has a capacity of 200 bed for Covid patients that will be increased to 300 beds. Additionally there are 62 ICU facilities at the medical college. Similarly, the Chabua Model Hospital has a bed capacity of 65 Covid patients (for males), Jokai Model Hospital has 72 bed capacity (for males), Lezai Kalakhowa Model Hospital has a capacity of 68 patients (for females), Tengakhat Model Hospital has 60 bed capacity (for males) and Lengeri Model Hospital has 70 bed capacity (for males).
Among the private hospitals, Sanjivani Hospital has a capacity of 50 bed (for both male and female), Brahmaputra Diagnostic and Hospitals has a capacity of 32 beds for Covid patients (for both gender), HM Hospital has a capacity of 27 beds (for both gender) and Aditya Diagnostic and Hospitals has a capacity of 34 beds (for both gender).
On May 6, 456 positive cases were reported in Dibrugarh district apart from 5 deaths. This was the highest number of cases and deaths reported in a single day from the district.