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On CMs directives Covid testing capacity to be enhanced upto 4000 tests per day during September

PUNJAB NEW EXPRESS | August 09, 2020 06:40 PM

CHANDIGARH: On the directives of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, the Medical Education & Research Department has set up four new Covid viral testing labs to enhance the total daily testing capacity of 4000 tests during September 2020 with 1000 tests per day per lab in the state. Apart from this, the total viral testing capacity in three Medical Colleges at Patiala, Amritsar and Faridkot would also be ramped up to 5000 tests per day per college by August 31.

Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson said that this initiative would go a long way to fight the pandemic as early diagnosis is a key to contain and curb the spread of the disease.

Meanwhile, Principal Secretary Medical Education & Research DK Tiwari informed that Guru Angad Dev Veternary and Animal Science University, Ludhiana has already started its operations on August 5 with the capacity of 100 tests per day, which would be further increased to 1000 tests per day by in September. Likewise, the Forensic Sciences Lab in SAS Nagar (Mohali) will start its operations on August 10, 2020 with a starting capacity of 100 tests per day ramping up to 250 by August 30 and going upto 1000 tests per day by in September. Similarly, Punjab Biotechnology Incubator would start its operations on August 10, 2020 with an initial capacity of 100 tests per day and going up to 250 by August 25 and 1000 tests in September. The Regional Disease Diagnostic Lab in Jalandhar would start with a capacity of 25 tests per day ramping up to 250 by August 20 and increasing upto 1000 tests per day in September.

It was further disclosed that so far over 6.15 lakh tests have already been done in state till date. A sum of Rs. 14.47crores has been spent for the procurement of total equipment for Virology labs.

Informing about the process of setting up these RTPCR labs, Mr. Tewari said that these labs has been established in record time of three months from concept & design to reality. He said that process of approval and tendering etc. have been completed in 25 days,

and machines installation in 15 days. He said that ICMR approvals have been taken in 10 days.

Mr. Tiwari further said that  lab at Mohali will be inaugurated jointly by Medical Education and Research Minister Mr O.P. Soni  and  Health Minister Punjab Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu  whereas in Ludhiana Medical education and research minister Mr.O P Soni, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Mr. Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa and  Food & Civil Supplies Minister Punjab by Mr. Bharat Bhushan Ashu will inaugurate jointly and similarly in Jalandhar medical education and research minister  Mr. OP Soni and Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development  Mr. Trips Rajinder Singh Bajwa will inaugurate jointly.

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