Five more test positive for COVID-19, total tally in Assam reaches 58

Five people, who had travelled from Rajasthan to Silchar, tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday, taking the total number of cases in Assam to 58, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

Of the total 58 cases, 23 are active, he said.

"There are two more COVID-19 patients who travelled in the bus which ferried people from Rajasthan. They are from Cachar district," the minister tweeted.

Three other persons tested positive earlier in the day, while four others tested positive on Thursday and another on Wednesday, taking the total number of cases related to this group, who came from Ajmer to 10.

The patients have been admitted to Silchar Medical College Hospital.

A bus carrying 45 passengers and crew, arrived at Silchar on Wednesday, after being given permission by the Ajmer Deputy Commissioner. Of them 10 have tested positive so far.

As the passengers had gone home briefly after screening, several areas in four villages of Cachar district has been declared as containment zones, he said. Direct and indirect contact tracing was still going on and 185 people have been quarantined in facilities so far.

There has been a spike in the number of COVID-19 positive cases in Assam with 13 reported in the last 24 hours -- nine from Silchar and four from Guwahati.

Among the four positive cases in Guwahati, a 16-year old girl was found positive after she died on Thursday.

The minister had earlier told reporters that her sample was taken for COVID-19 test after her death and was found to be positive.

It is very unfortunate as she did not get the necessary treatment, Sarma said, adding, "We will have to discuss with the Union Health Ministry whether we can declare her death due to COVID-19 as we did not treat her for the disease and she was found to be positive after her death."