COVID-19: Assam CM orders border district officials to screen truck drivers entering state

Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal directed officials to ensure regular screening of truck drivers and helpers arriving from other states amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides this, Sonowal asked the DCs and SPs of Kokrajhar and Dhubri to create adequate awareness among residents at the border villages.

Guwahati (Assam): Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday directed all officials of border districts to ensure screening of truck drivers and helpers entering the state for coronavirus symptoms.

Earlier on Wednesday, Sonowal, in a video-conference, had told officials of Kokrajhar and Dhubri to screen the incoming truck drivers and their helpers at Boxirhat and Srirampur gates.

"In view of the possibility of COVID-19 entering through interstate borders, the district Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Superintendents of Police (SPs) of Kokrajhar and Dhubri are directed to strictly screen the incoming truck drivers and their associates at Boxirhat and Srirampur gates for coronavirus symptoms. Also, create adequate awareness at the border villages so that people could report any person endeavouring to sneak into Assam during the lockdown period," he said.

As per the latest update by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of positive cases in Assam is 35, of which 19 have recovered/migrated and only one death has been reported.

(ANI)