Guwahati News Desk: In a major development, the Assam has suspected its first case of new COVID-19 variant Omicron in Sonitpur district. Reportedly, on Saturday, the suspect individual was identified as Suryabahadur Tamang. He has returned from Saudi Arabia and is now admitted to Tezpur Medical College and Hospital. However, in this regard, officially there is no information available from the state government.
Assam on Friday reported 141 new COVID-19 cases pushing the tally to 6,18,328, a bulletin issued by the National Health Mission here. Meanwhile, the centre has asked the states and Union Territories to maintain adequate buffer stock of the eight critical drugs identified for treatment of new Covid-19 variant Omicron. The states have been asked to ensure that funds released by Centre under ECRP-II are being utilized for creating and strengthening health infrastructure, and 100 per cent matching funds are promptly released by states to the state health societies.
“As the progress of the funds utilization at the field level is being reviewed by the Health Ministry, information on progress of funds utilization needs to be filled in the portal created for the purpose. It needs to be ensured that al health facilities at the field level have functional ventilators, PSA plants, oxygen concentrators etc,” said Health Ministry in a review meeting with states.
Raising the issue of many ventilators supplied by the Centre lying unpacked and unused at some field hospitals, the Centre has asked the states to review immediately and ensure that all PSA oxygen plants, oxygen concentrators and ventilators are installed and functioning.