To ramp up Covid-19 testing in view of the rapid spread of the virus in its second wave, the State Government has decided to set up more RT-PCR testing laboratories in 16 districts.
The facilities will be set up at the district headquarters of Bhadrak, Boudh, Bargarh, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Kandhamal, Kendrapada, Khordha, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Subarnapur and Sundargarh.
For Rayagada district, though the machine has been ordered by the Odisha State Medical Corporation Limited (OSMCL), all other peripheral equipments, including BioSafety Cabinet Class II A2 and BSL level 2+, will be installed.
As per the current norms, a microbiologist and three laboratory technicians will be recruited on outsourcing basis for operating the labs per shift. The approximate unit cost for establishment of a testing facility with BioSafety Cabinet Class II A2 and BSL level 2+ is around Rs 120 lakh, said an official statement issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department.