Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Apr 1: The government has given its clearance for the opening of a virus testing laboratory including coronavirus in the city. The laboratory would be housed in the district at Wenlock Hospital and the laboratory will begin work on an experimental basis from Wednesday, April 1 onwards.

During his last visit to the city, health minister B Sriramulu had announced about the decision of the government to open virus testing laboratories in all the districts of Karnataka. The need for the lab in the city was felt in view of the fact that there is an international airport with a lot of people having been employed abroad. The district has also been witnessing coronavirus suspect cases often.

Wenlock Hospital (File Photo)

The laboratory will have five staff including Dr Sharat Kumar and Dr Madhusudan. Scientists from NITK Suratkal, fisheries college and Mangalore University, have joined hands in making this laboratory a reality.

Once the laboratory here becomes fully functional, coronavirus suspect cases can be disposed off fast, and results would be out within a day. In the past, throat swab samples were to be dispatched to Bengaluru and it took four to five days for the result to come.

For setting up the laboratory, the government has spent Rs 60 lac including equipment. An official in the hospital said that money had to be spent more on getting some basic infrastructure facility.

Deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district Sindhu B Rupesh, stated that the government had sanctioned virus testing laboratory including corona here, and permission from Indian Council of Medical Research is awaited. She said that the laboratory has been set up with necessary equipment and facilities.