DIMAPUR, June 23 - Nagaland witnessed a sharp rise in the number of COVID-19 positive cases for the second consecutive day on Tuesday.
According to State Health Minister S Pangnyu Phom, 50 fresh cases were reported in the State in the past 24 hours. The tally of COVID-19 cases in the State has now reached 330. The State reported 69 cases on Monday. Since 141 cases were discharged after recovery, there are currently 189 active cases in Nagaland.
According to the Health Minister, 24 cases were reported from Dimapur, 14 from Kohima and 12 from Peren in the past 24 hours. The latest cases were confirmed from among 312 samples tested within the State.
Meanwhile, the biosafety level-2 (BSL-2) laboratory at the Christian Institute of Health Sciences and Research in Dimapur here will be inaugurated on June 29, disclosed Phom.
According to the Health Minister, the laboratory will become operational immediately after inauguration. Once the laboratory is functional, the rate of testing COVID-19 samples in Nagaland will increase manifold.
At present, Nagaland depends on the sole laboratory at the Naga Hospital Authority Kohima. It is a BSL-3 laboratory that was inaugurated on May 21.
Prior to this, samples from the State were sent to Assam or Manipur for tests.
