Assam reports 1856 new COVID cases, tally nears 88,000

Guwahati, Aug 22
Six more people died of coronavirus in Assam in last 24 hours taking the State's death toll to 227. Assam Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "Six persons aged between 43 years and 57 years died of COVID-19 at different hospitals in the State on Friday".
Assam registered 1,856 new positive cases of coronavirus, taking the total tally to 87,908.
Out of the fresh cases, 433 cases have been reported from Kamrup (Metro) district, 150 cases detected in Dibrugarh district, 143 cases in Cachar district, 121 other cases in Kamrup (Rural) district.
Rajya Sabha MP Kama-khya Prasad Tasa and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) MLA of Dergaon Bhabendra Nath Bharali have also tested positive for the new virus.
Both Tasa and Bharali have been admitted to Jorhat Medical College and Hospital.
Earlier, nine MLAs including seven from BJP, one each from Congress and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) were diagnosed with the coronavirus.
The State on Friday tested 36,180 samples for the novel coronavirus while the positivity rate reached 5.12 percent.
State Health Minister Sarma said in a tweet, “1856 #COVID cases detected today out of 36180 tests done in last 24 hours. Positivity Rate- 5.12%. Kamrup (M)- 433, Dibrugarh- 150, Cachar- 143, Kamrup R- 121.”
Out of the total cases detected in the state so far, 65,596 patients have recovered. The state has now 22,082 active positive cases of coronavirus.