Govt to conduct 600 virus tests daily

QUETTA: As the province faced lack of testing kits for coronavirus due to a spike in infections, Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal ordered increase in the Covid-19 tests up to 600 per day.

The chief minister directed in a meeting to review coronavirus testing capabilities in which the provincial health secretary and health director general briefed him on the testing capacity in the province and apprised him of their concerns regarding rapid increase in cases of coronavirus infections.

According to reports, 8,000 samples of the suspected patients awaited results.

Besides, only one laboratory was operational in Fatima Jinnah Chest and General Hospital Quetta which conducted 300 tests on a daily basis.

Responding to public complaints over lack of tests in the province, Kamal directed health department to immediately procure VTM kits to double the number of tests in Quetta.

During the meeting, the members decided to dispatch PCR machines from Khuzdar and Loralai to ease testing burden in Quetta. Besides, the health department informed the chief minister funds for procurement of VTM machines were released.

Meanwhile, Kamal directed authorities concerned to ensure implementation of lockdown and urged people to maintain social distancing and safety precautions to prevent further spread of the deadly contagion.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6^th, 2020.