Representational image.

In the wake of the massive surge in COVID-19 cases in Assam, the newly formed state government is likely to announce a 15-day total lockdown from Wednesday.

New chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is scheduled to hold the first cabinet meeting of the newly formed government at 6 pm on Tuesday.

Sources said the government is likely to take a call at the cabinet meeting on imposing a lockdown in the state to contain the second wave of the deadly coronavirus.

Chief minister Sarma on Tuesday hinted that govt might take some strict measures to contain the second wave of the pandemic in the state.

“I visited GMCH and along with Pr Secy Health, Guwahati Police Commissioner, DC Kamrup and other health officials, discussed strict measures that need to be deployed over the next 15 days to contain #COVID19. In view of escalating cases, we need tough measures,” he said in a tweet on Monday.

Assam on Monday recorded 77 Covid-related deaths — the state’s highest number of single-day fatalities since the pandemic broke out last year.

The state registered 5,803 new cases, the highest so far, after carrying out 72,197 tests.

The positivity rate on Monday declined to 8.04% with testing almost double compared to Sunday.