ITANAGAR, April 30 - Arunachal Pradesh�s first COVID-19 qRT-PCR laboratory opened today at the Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS) Hospital at Naharlagun, which has been converted into a dedicated COVID-19 hospital.
The COVID-19 testing laboratory will start collecting samples for suspected coronavirus from May 1 onwards.
The testing laboratory was inaugurated by Health and Family Welfare Minister Alo Libang in the presence of Secretary (Health) P Parthiban, TRIHMS Director Dr Moji Jini and other senior officers of the department.
Speaking on the occasion, Libang informed the gathering that the State Government has initiated the work to establish two more COVID-19 testing laboratories � one at Pasighat and the other at C-Sector, Naharlagun.
�Work on the proposed laboratory at Pasighat is currently under way, while the one at C-sector in Naharlagun will be completed in a couple of days. We assume that with the establishment of the COVID-19 qRT-PCR laboratory at the TRIHMS, samples of around 100 people can be tested on a single day. This will increase to another 200 samples a day once the laboratory at C-Sector, Naharlagun, is made operational,� he said.
The Health Minister also informed that work is under way to establish the COVID-19 hospital at Midpu in Papumpare district.
Stranded citizens: With just three days left for the nationwide lockdown to end, the Arunachal Pradesh Government today said that it was making arrangements to bring back its citizens, including students, who are stranded in other parts of the country and who wish to return to the State.
�In the first phase, the Government plans to make arrangements for bringing back those stranded in other North Eastern States in consultation with the respective State governments. Those availing of the services will need to pay for the transport charges,� State Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar said on Thursday.
