Long queue in front of liquor shops in Assam after 26 days shut down:

Guwahati, April 13: Amid the Coronavirus lockdown, an unusual scene was seen in different parts in Assam on Monday morning. Many people made long queue in front of liquor shops in Assam to purchase liquor bottles after the Assam government allowed to open liquor shops in the state from Monday.

The people were in the queue in a disciplined manner by maintaining social distancing norms.

In Guwahati, people were queued up in front of different liquor shops to purchase liquor bottles.

The liquor shops in the state have been opened after 26 days.

The liquor shops in Assam were shut down from March 18 following a directive by the state Excise department in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak.

On Sunday, the Assam Excise department issued an order and stated that – “The state government has approved the opening of IMFL “OFF/CS “OFF” shops, wholesale warehouses, bottling plants, distilleries, and Breweries w.e.f 13/04/2020 on the permitted days.”

The order stated that, the IMFL “OFF”/CS “OFF” Shop shall remain Open from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. on the permitted days.

“The Licensee of IMFL “OFF”/CS “OFF” shops, wholesale warehouses, bottling plants, distilleries and breweries shall be personally responsible for deploying their staff to ensure maintaining social distancing of at least one meter between customers, staff, cough etiquette and to strictly follow directives issued by National Health Mission, Assam with reference to COVID-19 situation. The IMFL “OFF”/CS “OFF” shops may work with bare minimum staff and provide hand sanitizers to customers and staff while handling the bottles and cash. To strictly avoid overcrowding, staff of a particular IMFL “OFF”/CS “OFF” shop may direct the Customers to other nearby shops,” the Assam Excise department order said.

The order also stated that, the wholesale warehouses, distilleries, breweries, bottling plants shall work with bare minimum staff but not more than 50 percent of their regular staff and workers.

“The IMEL “OFF”/CS “OFF* shops shall extend full cooperation to District Administration, Excise and Police etc. Superintendent of Excise shall deploy Excise officials to monitor the compliance of directives issued by National Health Mission, Assam with reference to COVID-19 situation. The wholesale warehouses, bottling plants, breweries, distilleries must arrange to keep their staff and workers within their campus and shall arrange food and other amenities for them,” the order stated.

Assam has reported 30 positive cases for COVID-19 so far and out of 30 patients one patient died on April 10.

All political parties decide to work together as Team Assam to fight against COVID-19:

Guwahati, April 12: In the wake of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, all political parties of Assam on Sunday had decided to work together as Team Assam spirit to fight against COVID-19.

Assam government on Sunday called a meeting of all political parties in the state to discuss the present COVID-19 crisis and lockdown situation in the state and Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal had chaired the meeting.

Former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, senior Congress leaders, leaders of All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), ruling BJP and its ally parties Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), CPI-M and other political parties were also present in the meeting.

Chairing the all-party meet convened by the government to elicit suggestions from the leaders of all political parties of the state at Assam Administrative Staff College in Guwahati, Sonowal said that, because of spiking infection of novel Coronavirus in Assam, leaders cutting across all political parties need to demonstrate consolidation of the spirit of Team Assam to fight against COVID-19.

He observed that at a time of extraordinary health emergency, both government machinery and opposition should work in unison to help the state machinery to wage a war against this unseen threat caused by this new strain of virus.

“COVID-19 has pushed the state to take care of people’s health as well as the health of the state’s economy. In the absence of an antidote to treat the health conditions purportedly caused by the virus, social distancing and avoidance of social gathering are largely considered as the best precaution protocol to keep the virus at bay. To maintain the protocol of social distancing daily and regular activities including the economic activities of the people are being truncated to save precious lives across the state,” Sonowal said.

Sonowal also maintained that there is no denying that complete lockdown has had its effect on the economic activities of the people and overall economic health of the state. Therefore, the government is enforcing the lockdown to break the chain of transmission.

He also said that during the lockdown, the government machinery has shown its commitment to make available of all essential commodities within the reach of every individual. Different government agencies are working day in and day out to sustain the supply chain much to the satisfaction of the common people of the state.

Reiterating the government’s commitment to the welfare of all sections of the people especially those belonging to the economically backward classes particularly during the lockdown period, Sonowal said that, the government is implementing its schemes resolutely including transfer financial benefits to bank accounts of the beneficiaries to look after their subsistence.

After the meeting Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal told media that, all political parties have taken the resolution to work together as Team Assam spirit in this crisis hour.

“The political parties have expressed their satisfaction over the steps taken the government to fight against COVID-19. All political parties have also vowed to provide safety and extend help to the people of the state at any cost during this crucial moment,” Sonowal said.

The Assam CM also said that, all political parties have also taken a joint resolution to thank all frontline COVID-19 warriors of the state who are leading our fight against COVID-19.

On the other hand, the Assam cabinet on Sunday had decided that, the state government will follow the instructions of the Union government over the lockdown issue.

Assam Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said that, the Assam government will only follow the instructions given by the center.

“The Assam Chief Minister has assigned all ministers in different districts of the state to look at the overall situation and we are following it. The present situation of the state was discussed in the cabinet. The cabinet has decided to follow the center’s instructions over COVID-19,” the Assam minister said.

Assam has reported 29 positive cases for COVID-19 so far and one COVID-19 positive patient died recently.

Assam youth tested COVID-19 positive allegedly committed suicide in Maharashtra’s Akola:

Guwahati, April 11: COVID-19 positive youth committed suicide. A 30-year-old migrant worker from Assam’s Nagaon district who tested positive for COVID-19 had allegedly committed suicide in Akola in Maharashtra on Friday.

The youth hailing from West Salpara village under Samaguri assembly constituency in Nagaon district was undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Akola and he was admitted at the hospital on April 7.

He was tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday.

According to the reports, the youth had allegedly slit his own throat and the hospital staff found him on the bathroom floor of the hospital on Friday.

Reportedly, the youth left his home nine months back and attended the religious congregation at Nizamuddin Markaz.

On Saturday, local Congress MLA Rockybul Hussain had visited the deceased person residence at West Salpara village.

“I visit the deceased person home after receiving the news that, the youth had allegedly committed suicide after he was tested positive for COVID-19 at a hospital at Akola in Maharashtra. The Deputy Magistrate of Akola has confirmed the report,” Rockybul Hussain said.

Many tea gardens in Assam started work by following COVID-19 protocols:

Guwahati, April 11: After over two weeks of shutdown, tea gardens in some districts of Assam have partially started functions from Saturday.

The gardens of few districts of the state have started functional from Saturday following a series of meetings of the state government.

The district administrations have permission to resume operations of the tea gardens with COVID-19 protocols.

The tea planters have been allowed the activities like skilling, plucking, manufacturing with 50 percent workforce and COVID-19 protocols.

According to the district administrations order, the tea gardens will operate with maximum 50 percent workers and employees on a roster basis, movement of workers of a tea garden will be restricted within the premises of the garden only, no outsiders will be allowed to enter in the garden premises except for emergency services, all tea gardens authorities will ensure strict compliance of social distancing of at least one meter and proper hygiene practices, wearing o mask by the laborers, employees is compulsory in the tea gardens.

Along with others, the tea industry in Assam has been under lockdown since March 24.

Dibrugarh district Deputy Commissioner Pallav Gopal Jha said that, all the tea gardens have to be followed the social distancing norms and the Union government’s directive.

“We have taken a decision to open the tea gardens and all the garden management authorities have to be followed the COVID-19 protocols,” Pallav Gopal Jha said.

There are a total of 803 registered tea gardens and more than 10,000 small tea gardens in Assam and around 45 lakh daily wage laborers are working in the tea gardens.

Dibrugarh has the highest number of tea gardens in the state with 177 gardens.

After over two weeks of shutdown, tea gardens in some districts of Assam have partially started functions from Saturday.

Assam CM Sonowal directs to maintain strict vigil at Indo-Bangladesh border:

Guwahati, April 11: Strict vigil at Indo-Bangladesh border. Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal directed the administration of South Salmara Mankachar to take immediate steps for the strict vigil at India-Bangladesh border adjoining the district boundary and to maintain regular interaction with the Border Security Force so that no person could move even to the ‘No Man’s land’ for farm activities during the lockdown period.

Sonowal directed this while reviewing COVID-19 preparedness of South Salmara-Mankachar district administration in a meeting held at Deputy Commissioner’s conference hall at Hatsingimari in South Salmara-Mankachar district on Friday.

Underlining the state government’s move to provide one-time financial assistance of Rs 1000 to the families who are not included in the National Food Security Act, the Assam Chief Minister emphasized on a selection of beneficiary with utmost transparency.

Sonowal also directed the Veterinary & Animal Husbandry department to arrange adequate feeds for animals in the district.

Given the 21-day lockdown, the Assam Chief Minister asked the Food & Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department to ensure an uninterrupted supply of essential goods to people. He directed the departmental officials to take strict action against hoarding to check the escalation of prices of essential commodities.

Moreover, in response to the request of the Deputy Commissioner of South Salmara-Mankachar district Atika Sultana to ensure an adequate supply of fruits in the district because of the forthcoming Ramadan month, the Assam Chief Minister instructed the F&CS department to take necessary steps for the same.

Sonowal also reviewed steps taken by various departments to tackle CODIV-19.

F&CS Minister Phani Bhusan Choudhury, MLAs Dr. Motiur Rohman Mondal and Bimal Bora and senior officials of district administration and other departments were present in the meeting.

Later interacting with media persons, Sonowal thanked the people of the district for adhering to the norms of the lockdown and urged them to maintain the norm of social distancing till the lockdown period is over.

The Assam Chief Minister lauded the media’s role in taking the message of preventive measures to fight against COVID-19 at the grass-root level.

“The state health department is fully geared up and adequate health facilities like isolation ward and special quarantine facilities have been developed for the treatment of novel coronavirus infection,” Sonowal said.

He also appreciated the role of health department functionaries saying that they are working 24×7 for rendering service to the needy people.

“Police personnel and officials of F&CS, PHE, Power and various other departments are working with united efforts to tide over this crisis,” Sonowal said.

The Assam Chief Minister also urged people to maintain social distance to protect themselves from the novel coronavirus infection and advised people to abstain from social gatherings.

Sonowal also visited Goalpara district today and held a review meeting with the district administration to take stock of COVID-19 preparedness in the district apart from visiting a quarantine center set up at Goalpara College.

Assam reports its first COVID-19 related death.

Guwahati, April 10: Assam first COVID-19 death has been reported on Friday as a 65-year-old man from Hailakandi district of the state died due to COVID-19.

The man hailing from Hailakandi district died at Silchar Medical College Hospital (SMCH) early on Friday morning.

Confirming the report, Assam Health Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted – “With utmost Grief and sorrow, I would like to inform that Sri Faijul Haque Barbhyan,(65)Hailakandi District has expired a few minutes back in SMCH due to complication of COVID19 http://infection.My deep condolences and prayers for the bereaved family.”

With utmost Grief and sorrow,I would like to inform that Sri Faijul Haque Barbhyan,(65)Hailakandi District has expired few minutes back in SMCH due to complication of COVID19 https://t.co/MoRWPP4Bml deep condolences and prayers for the bereaved family

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) April 9, 2020

The man was tested COVID-19 positive on April 7 and he had a travel history to Saudi Arabia.

Earlier, the Assam Health minister said that, the 65-year-old man had also visited Nizamuddin Markaz.

On Thursday, he had been shifted to the ICU of Silchar Medical College Hospital after his oxygen saturation started decreasing.

Assam has reported 29 positive cases for COVID-19 and there are now 28 active cases in the state.