The systematic smear campaign against the COVID by a section of the people and press have taken a toll in the COVID management of Assam.

Accusing certain sections of media of carrying out a smear campaign against the government's handling of the pandemic by saying things like GMCH is unhygienic and questioning the dedication of the doctors and nurses in the fight against the contagion, Sarma said that such campaigns are discouraging people from coming ahead for testing.

The social media has been abuzz with wrong treatments, false reports and horror of patients in various hospitals across the state and this has caused severe strain on the overall Covid management.

Highlighting the relaxations in the lockdown in Kamrup Metro that will be underway from tomorrow, he urged the ones going to buy groceries to be careful, and avoid physical contact of any kind with the store keepers if possible. He requested the people to ask the ones working in such stores to take the necessary precautions.

He said that 30% of the people who have been tested have found to be carrying the contagion. Only asymptomatic people have been kept in Khanapara. Symptomatic patients are undergoing treatment at GMCH, he added.