GUWAHATI: Assam has tested 1,04,083 samples for COVID-19 as of 31st May. With this, Assam has convincingly bypassed Kerala in the number of COVID-19 tests conducted.
"The state is capable of conducting around 10,000 tests per day. We will aim to complete 2 lakh tests by 15th June," said health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in a press conference.
Given the capability of the state to test more samples, institutional quarantine period will be reduced from 7 days to 4 days from the month of June. However, that would not be implemented immediately.
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"All test results will have to be declared within 72 hours and people will be asked to shift for home quarantine after 4 days of institutional quarantine. This will save a lot of public money as we are paying for the quarantine facilities. Instead home quarantine period will be increased," added Sarma.
Two to three more testing facilities are to be introduced in the next few days.
Sarma informed that about 2,30,000 people have returned to Assam and 1024 of them have tested positive.
"Apart from one patient in Digboi no community transmission has been recorded as of yet," he added.