Assam registered its highest single-day rise of 613 fresh COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, June 30, and the tally of the state crossed the 8,000-mark and the death toll rose to 12, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

The total figure of COVID-19 cases in the state reached 8,407 and Guwahati city, which comes under Kamrup district and where a complete lockdown has been inflicted for 14 days. Since June 28 midnight, it has recorded 1,767 cases so far. Earlier the highest single-day jump of 331 cases was recorded on June 21.

“A total of 613 new COVID-19 cases detected today. A total of 380 cases were reported in Guwahati city alone, and need for caution cant be over emphasised,” the minister tweeted. A 50-year-old man, a resident of Guwahati, was brought dead on June 22 to Guwahati Medical College Hospital and his samples were sent for testing, which was subsequently confirmed to be positive, Sarma said.

“I am sad to inform that a 50-year-old of Fatasil Ambari, Guwahati was brought dead to GMCH on June 22. Subsequently, he was tested positive for #COVID19. With this our death toll goes up to 12,” he tweeted. He extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

On Tuesday, 314 patients were cured and released from different hospitals of the state, taking the total number of cured cases to 5,647, Sarma said. “Glad that 314 more patients have been discharged today in Assam, taking our recovery rate to 72 percent,” he tweeted.

Of the total 8,407 cases, 2,745 are active cases, 5,647 people have been cured, 12 died and three migrated out of the state, he said.

Sarma, accompanied with his deputy minister Pijush Hazarika and other senior officers, held a video conference with all the deputy commissioners of the state and instructed them to follow all rules with severe precision. “PM Shri @narendramodi said it all today – we should not lower our guards as we unlock. At a VC with all DCs of Assam, I made it amply clear that were still in a danger zone and should follow all rules with ruthless precision,” he tweeted.

The state has examined 4,12,214 samples so far for COVID-19 in 12 government laboratories and a few outsourced centres. “Our aggressive and targeted testing is designed to flatten the curve by tracing all those who may be potentially infected. Continuing Herculean efforts, health department teams reached testing figures of 4,12,214 today. Your cooperation has been vital a strive for #COVIDFreeAssam,” Sarma tweeted.

In the meantime, a 250-bed COVID Hospital at Patanjali Yogpeeth, Mirza near Guwahati became functional from Tuesday, Sarma said. “Visited the Hospital again and promised all help to doctors and staff by the Government. This facility boosts our pandemic management infrastructure,” he tweeted. The minister further said that the complete salary of Assam government employees for June will be released on July 1. “Despite the apparent challenges and financial constraints, were trying our best to ensure the least problems for all. We highly value your patience and understanding,” he said