<p>Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said people travelling to the state from outside will have to undergo mandatory seven-day home quarantine in the wake of a rise in Covid-19 cases.</p>.<p>However, government officials, those travelling for medical reasons, and people visiting the state in connection with bereavements will be exempted from it, he said.</p>.<p>In a series of tweets, Sarma said, the health department is working relentlessly to ramp up testing by rolling out screening centres in every ward of the state capital.</p>.<p><a href="http://www.deccanherald.com/tag/covid-19"><strong>Follow DH's latest updates on Covid-19, here</strong></a></p>.<p>On April 13, the Assam government had made it mandatory for all air passengers arriving in the state to undergo Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), followed by RT-PCR test, even if the RAT was negative.</p>.<p>While passengers were not to be charged for the RAT, RT-PCR would cost them Rs 500.</p>.<p>This has now been extended to all people entering the state by rail and by road.</p>.<p>Sarma also said, "We're ramping up #COVID19 testing facilities by creating a screening centre in every ward of Guwahati City so that people can get access to RT-PCR or Rapid Antigen test without any hassle."</p>.<p>In case, the daily case rate in Guwahati touches 1,000, the Kamrup Metropolitan district administration has been authorised to close educational institutions and hostels, he added.</p>.<p>The number of positive cases in Guwahati has been on the rise with 742 people testing positive on Tuesday.</p>.<p>The health minister said, the state government has granted tankers, carrying nitrogen, argon and oxygen, the status of an ambulance, to enable their hassle-free movement in the state and transit through Assam for the speedy delivery of oxygen to critical centres.</p>.<p>The state reported three more deaths due to Covid-19 on Tuesday, while the number of coronavirus cases rose sharply with 1,651 persons testing positive, pushing the total number of infections to 2,27,473. Given the spiralling Covid-19 numbers, the Assam government has already ordered to shut markets and shops by 6 pm and permitted 50 per cent of employees, except officers, to work from home in districts having 100 or more active cases. </p>
<p>Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said people travelling to the state from outside will have to undergo mandatory seven-day home quarantine in the wake of a rise in Covid-19 cases.</p>.<p>However, government officials, those travelling for medical reasons, and people visiting the state in connection with bereavements will be exempted from it, he said.</p>.<p>In a series of tweets, Sarma said, the health department is working relentlessly to ramp up testing by rolling out screening centres in every ward of the state capital.</p>.<p><a href="http://www.deccanherald.com/tag/covid-19"><strong>Follow DH's latest updates on Covid-19, here</strong></a></p>.<p>On April 13, the Assam government had made it mandatory for all air passengers arriving in the state to undergo Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), followed by RT-PCR test, even if the RAT was negative.</p>.<p>While passengers were not to be charged for the RAT, RT-PCR would cost them Rs 500.</p>.<p>This has now been extended to all people entering the state by rail and by road.</p>.<p>Sarma also said, "We're ramping up #COVID19 testing facilities by creating a screening centre in every ward of Guwahati City so that people can get access to RT-PCR or Rapid Antigen test without any hassle."</p>.<p>In case, the daily case rate in Guwahati touches 1,000, the Kamrup Metropolitan district administration has been authorised to close educational institutions and hostels, he added.</p>.<p>The number of positive cases in Guwahati has been on the rise with 742 people testing positive on Tuesday.</p>.<p>The health minister said, the state government has granted tankers, carrying nitrogen, argon and oxygen, the status of an ambulance, to enable their hassle-free movement in the state and transit through Assam for the speedy delivery of oxygen to critical centres.</p>.<p>The state reported three more deaths due to Covid-19 on Tuesday, while the number of coronavirus cases rose sharply with 1,651 persons testing positive, pushing the total number of infections to 2,27,473. Given the spiralling Covid-19 numbers, the Assam government has already ordered to shut markets and shops by 6 pm and permitted 50 per cent of employees, except officers, to work from home in districts having 100 or more active cases. </p>