On Thursday, the Assam government opened a 300-bed Covid19 hospital at a stadium complex in Guwahati to combat the ongoing pandemic.
Constructed in 20 days for Rs 21.46 Cr, the hospital was built with help from Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and handed over to the state government, which completed its first month in office on Thursday.
In an area of 3,200 sq m, the hospital in Sarusajai has 200 beds in general wards with oxygen facilities and 100 intensive care unit (ICU) beds. It also has an X-ray room, pharmacy, ultrasound, and ECG room and laboratory.
“Since assuming office, we have been able to set up 390 ICU beds and 2,684 oxygen beds all over the state to cater to Covid-19 patients,” Chief Minister Himanta Biswa said after inaugurating the new facility.
“Due to our advanced planning, we have been able to cater to oxygen needs of our patients as well as supply it to neighbouring states in the northeast to help them tackle the situation. The new facility will immensely aid our fight against the pandemic,” he added.
On May 10, the day the new Cabinet took the oath, the state recorded 5,803 positive Covid cases. Within the next 10 days, the figure rose to 6,573 cases on May 20, the highest ever daily cases for the state. Nearly 80-90 deaths from the disease were reported daily then and hospitals were filled to the brim with patients.
The daily numbers have now come down to around 3,800 cases and 40 deaths. The positivity rate, which is a measure of the number of cases turning up positive out of the total tested, hovered at 9% a month ago. It has now decreased to nearly 3%. The state has over 49,000 active Covid cases at present.
