The Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) has been selected for the second phase clinical testing of India's indigenously developed coronavirus vaccine, COVAXIN, the Assam Health Minister said on August 18.

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He said the GMCH would provide all-out support for the second phase clinical testing of COVAXIN, which has already shown successful results in phase-one clinical trials. According to the Minister, till August 18 night, Assam has tested more than 18.22 lakh samples with 79,667 people testing positive for COVID-19. Of the total cases, 56,734 people have recovered from the disease with the recovery rate being 71.2 percent and mortality rate 0.25 percent.

He said 197 people have died due to COVID-19 in the state so far. In terms of recovery rate, he said, five states -- Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, West Bengal and Tripura -- were better than Assam.