Vaccine unlikely before December: Assam Health Minister

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GUWAHATI | SEPT 10, 2020: 

Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has once again sounded caution over the spike in COVID cases and increasing deaths in the state, saying that the situation has turned precarious now.

Speaking to reporters after a plasma donation programme for Assam Rifles personnel at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital here on Thursday, Sarma said COVID-19 would remain a challenge till a vaccine is developed to fight the virus.

"Given the situation, we are unlikely to have a vaccine before December this year. So we are staring at a precarious situation. Yesterday, we recorded the highest number of deaths (18) in a single day for the first time in the state. The infections too are rising with an average of 2500 positive cases reported every day," Sarma said.

The health minister appealed to the people to take extra precautions and follow the COVID safety protocols.

He lauded the Assam Rifles personnel and the junior doctors for donating plasma at the camp at GMCH. The Junior Doctors Association (JDA), GMCH in association with National Health Mission Assam, organised the camp to help treat COVID-19 patients.

"I congratulate JDA and wish them the very best. I thank donors from Assam Rifles and the medical fraternity," Sarma later tweeted.

Assam had on Wednesday registered as many as 2,243 COVID-19 positive cases, taking the state's overall tally to 1, 33,066.

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