As COVID-19 cases continue to rise exponentially in Guwahati, the Assam health department along with the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has decided to go for complete lockdown.

The lockdown in the city has been planned with the aim to stop the spread of the disease.

The lockdown, however, won't be implemented in entire Guwahati as the authorities have decided to lockdown only those wards from where the COVID-19 cases are reported in large numbers.

Around 150 persons without travel history have tested positive for COVID-19 in Guwahati.

Addressing the media in Guwahati on Monday state health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the situation in the city was alarming.

As per recommendation, the Kamrup (Metro) district administration has decided to enforce ward-wise lockdown from Monday 6:00 pm.

The state health department also anticipates a further spike in positive cases in Guwahati, which will "deteriorate the situation even more" in the coming days.

"We expect the people of Guwahati will cooperate with us and together we will be able to prevent a Delhi, Chennai or Mumbai like situation in the city," Sarma said on Monday.

In his address to the media, the health minister said that particularly seven wards in the city – II, III, IV, V, X, XV and XVI – were a matter of concern for the government.

The focus of the health department is in Guwahati now. Elsewhere in the state, the situation is not that serious," Sarma said.

"Apart from the policy of containment, we have recommended the Kamrup (Metro) district administration to enforce ward-wise lockdown," he further said.

"The ward-wise lockdown will initially be for seven days and if necessary extended to fourteen days," the minister further added.

Sarma further said that a large number of COVID-19 screening centre will start operating in Guwahati from Wednesday, which, he said, will help to identify the positive cases and flatten Guwahati's COVID graph.

He further informed that the government has requisitioned 31 schools – one each in 31 wards- for setting up the screening centres.

"Moreover, the GMCH and MMCH will cater to two wards. Each of these schools will be converted into mini hospitals where a doctor, nurses and paramedical staff will be deployed," Sarma said.

The rapid-testing TruNet machines will also be installed in the schools to give the people instant test results.

Sarma also informed that anticipating a spike in Guwahati, the government would also convert the quarantine centres at Sarusajai, Khanapara etc into COVID care centres for treating asymptomatic patients.