Bhubaneswar: In view of second wave of Coronavirus pandemic, the Odisha government has accorded approval to a proposal for setting up RTPCR COVID-19 Testing Laboratories in 16 district headquarters of the state.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has sanctioned Rs 20 crore for setting up one RTPCR testing laboratory each in the districts of Bhadrak, Boudh, Bargarh, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Kandhamal, Kendrapada, Khordha, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Sonepur, Sundargarh and Rayagada.
These RTPCR COVID-19 Testing Laboratories will provide service to the people on a daily basis. For this purpose, one microbiologist and three laboratory technicians for each of these districts will be recruited on an outsourcing basis for operationalisation of the testing labs per shift as per the current norms of the Deptt.
As per a notification of the State Health & Family Welfare Department, The approximate unit cost for the establishment of RTPCR COVID-19 Testing Laboratory Facilities with Biosafety Cabinet Class II A2 and Biosafety Level2+ (BSL 2+) is around Rs 120 lakhs.
These laboratories will be helpful in the early detection of COVID-19 positive infection and prevent the transmission rate more effectively.
