Ex-Assam CM Tarun Gogoi’s oxygen saturation dips; stable, say doctors

 A senior doctor at the hospital told HT on Tuesday morning that the 85-year-old’s condition is stable and there’s no cause of immediate worry.

The former CM is admitted to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). (ANI file photo)

Veteran Congress leader and former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi, who has tested positive for coronavirus, had a sudden drop in his oxygen saturation level on Monday night. A senior doctor at the hospital told HT on Tuesday morning that the 85-year-old’s condition is stable and there’s no cause for immediate worry.

“Ex-CM Tarun Gogoi who is admitted to Guwahati Medical College Hospital (GMCH) for Covid-19 had a sudden fall in oxygen saturation to 88% at 11:30 pm. The team of doctors supervising his health immediately decided to give 1 unit of plasma with 2 l of oxygen on mask. O2 saturation is now maintained between 96% and 97%,” Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted on Monday night.

Gogoi, who was CM for three consecutive terms from 2001 till 2016, was tested as Covid-19 positive on August 26. The Assam government has constituted a eight-member team of doctors to monitor his health parameters regularly.

“There is sometimes fluctuation in oxygen saturation levels as he is an elderly person. But right now his condition is stable and there’s no need of immediate worry. His health is being monitored frequently,” said a senior doctor at GMCH on condition of anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to the media.