Nagaland: COVID-19 testing labs 'soon'  

Representative Image: An Indian Air Force plane arrives to Dimapur on April 13. (Morung Photo)   

First consignment of materials to arrive on April 15

Atono Tsükrü Kense
Kohima | April 13

Nagaland is getting ready to set up the COVID-19 Biosafety Level (BSL) - 3 at Naga Hospital Authority, Kohima (NHAK) and BSL-2 at the Christian Institute of Health Sciences & Research (CIHSR), Dimapur. The first consignment of materials will be arriving on April 14, it was informed.

The Ministry of Defense has been taken on board to airlift the materials weighing 18 tonnes which will land in Dimapur on April 14. Along with the first consignments, technicians will be coming to the state on the same day where work will begin in full swing.

Informing this to a section of media personnel, Kesonyü Yhome, Secretary Health &Family Welfare, Nagaland said that department has sought permission from Palgarh District Collector, Maharashtra for allowing factories from exemption to work for the Labs on April 10, while officials from the Thermo Fishers Scientific Private Limited have inspected the sites at NHAK and CIHSR.

Five research scientists from the state have been sent for two days training at Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Dibrugarh which was held on April 13 and 14. It was informed that they will be arriving tomorrow.

The second consignment of materials is expected to reach on April 18, while the third and fourth consignments are expected on April 22 and 26 respectively.

Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary, Temjen Toy reiterated that the State Government is pushing the concerned agencies to set up the testing facilities at the earliest possible time.

He also confirmed that materials have been procured and are ready to be lifted from Mumbai. The Indian Air Force has been asked to deploy a dedicated aircraft to bring the equipment to the State.