• Assam Government bans Republic Day celebration amidst increase in COVID-19 cases

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    Assam Government bans Republic Day celebration amidst increase in COVID-19 cases
    Digital Desk: In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Assam government banned all cultural programmes, award functions, and school children's involvement in the state's upcoming Republic Day celebrations on Friday.

    Chief Secretary Jishnu Barua issued an order limiting the Republic Day programme to the hoisting of the National Flag, a speech by the guest of honour, and a ceremonial march.

    “Other events, such as cultural programmes, award ceremonies, and prize giving, should be avoided. In light of the current Covid situation in the state, a pre- and post-Republic Day programme may be avoided," he noted.

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    The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) issued an order prohibiting schoolchildren from participating in the ceremonial parade or march past.

    "The number of people attending the Republic Day event in Kamrup (Metro) district may be limited to a maximum of 1,000 for state-level functions, 500 for district-level functions, and 200 for any other level," it added.

    Only qualified police, security officers, and house guards who are fully vaccinated will be allowed to participate in the ceremonial procession and march past, according to the order issued by Barua.

    The National Health Mission (NHM) noted in a bulletin that Assam had a 13 percent drop in new COVID-19 cases on Friday compared to the previous day, with 6,897 more people testing positive for the infection.

    The state's COVID-19 positivity percentage fell from 12.92 percent on Thursday to 12.13 percent after 56,849 samples were analysed.

    On the previous day, Assam had recorded 7,929 new arrivals.

    With a total of 6,84,954 COVID-19 positive cases in Assam, the overall positivity rate is 2.49 percent out of a total of 2,74,90,730 samples tested thus far.

    Three persons died in the Kamrup Metropolitan district, two in Barpeta, Dibrugarh, and Hailakandi, and one each in Jorhat, Karbi Anglong, Lakhimpur, Nagaon, Nalbari, and Tinsukia districts during the day.

    According to the NHM, the overall number of COVID-19-infected patients who died has risen to 7,622, with 1,347 of them having co-morbidities.

    The Kamrup Metropolitan District, which includes Guwahati city, reported 1,561 new cases compared to 1,716 infections the day before.

    So far, 1,47,889 infections have been detected.

    The number of persons recovered jumped by about 52% to 2,979 on Friday, up from 1,960 on Thursday, according to the NHM.

    So far, 6,32,311 COVID-19 patients have recovered in Assam.

    There are 45,021 active cases in the state right now.

    According to the Bulletin, 1,26,086 people were vaccinated on Friday, down from 1,40,025 on Thursday.

    A total of 4,05,87,364 vaccination doses have been delivered.

    The Assam government is however taking various precautionary steps to curb the infection.