Covid-19: ‘Expect less cases in Guwahati from 3rd week of July’

GUWAHATI: The number of Covid cases in Guwahati may start showing a gradual decline only from the third week of July, health experts said on Wednesday.
Even though the 14-day lockdown in Guwahati and other areas under Kamrup (Metropolitan) district was declared on June 28, the numbers have continued to go up. With tests being expedited in Kamrup (Metro) after imposition of the fresh lockdown, the number of positive cases has gone up.
Sources in the health department said between July 3 and July 7, about 3,700 rapid antigen tests were conducted in Guwahati, of which about 828 cases were positive.On Monday, of the 786 positive cases reported from across the state, 598 were from Kamrup (Metro) alone. On the other hand, of the 814 positive cases reported on Tuesday, 588 were from Kamrup (Metropolitan) that covers the Guwahati city areas.
“We are expecting the number of the Covid-19 cases to start coming down from the third week of July. Even though the (positive) impact of the ongoing 14-day lockdown is yet to be seen, it has been more successful than previous ones, we are hopeful that the number of positive cases will come down,” said director of medical education, Anup Kumar Barman, adding that the number could keep going up over the next week.
The state government has set up 31 Covid-19 Counseling Centers in each ward under Guwahati Municipal Corporation. These are acting as screening and testing centres for Covid-19 and the health department has urged all citizens of Guwahati to use these facilities and come forward for voluntary testing.
Director of National Health Mission, Assam, Lakshmanan S, told TOI , “Testing through both RT-PRC and rapid antigen kits is going on in Guwahati everyday. But that won't help if the city residents violate the social distancing norms and health protocols.”