"No Covid In Assam... No Need For Face Mask": BJP's Himanta Biswa Sarma
NDTV
Mr Sarma's comment comes on a day that India reported over 93,000 new cases in 24 hours - the most in a day since September 19
"There is no Covid in Assam... there is no need to wear a face mask in Assam..." - the words of Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is the state's Health Minister, one of the senior most members of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal's cabinet, and the ruling BJP's troubleshooter in the northeast. Mr Sarma's comment - made to a reporter from online news website The Lallantop - comes on a day India reported over 93,000 new cases in 24 hours - the most in a day since September 19. Assam's share in that spike is minimal - 68 new cases and no deaths - but the alarming rate at which the virus is spreading elsewhere - the positivity rate has shot up from 2.2 per cent four weeks ago to 7.1 per cent today - and the potential of more infectious strains is concerning. Against this backdrop, Mr Sarma said: "There is no Covid in Assam... there is no need to wear a face mask now in Assam... If there is a need I will inform the people..."More Related News