Mizoram to boost COVID testing capacity

The Mizoram government will purchase 10,000 more rapid antigen kits to boost the states COVID-19 testing capacity, Chief minister Zoramthanga said on Wednesday. Testing should be done in a massive way and more rapid antigen kits will be purchased, Zoramthanga was quoted as saying by the official. It was agreed at the meeting that the existing safety protocol will be enforced more strictly in the wake of the spurt in cases, the official said.

The Mizoram government will purchase 10,000 more rapid antigen kits to boost the states COVID-19 testing capacity, Chief minister Zoramthanga said on Wednesday. The chief minister made the announcement at a meeting with officials of the state government, NGOs, churches and doctors, according to an official.

Every citizen should take precautionary measures as community transmission can take place at any time. The preventive measure is for our safety against the pandemic. Testing should be done in a massive way and more rapid antigen kits will be purchased, Zoramthanga was quoted as saying by the official.

It was agreed at the meeting that the existing safety protocol will be enforced more strictly in the wake of the spurt in cases, the official said. Funerals with maximum 50 people will henceforth be held either at church halls or community halls but not in private residences to ensure that social distancing is strictly followed, he said.

Social distancing will be given priority in any gathering, he added. Congregational service 'Zaikhawm', a traditional practice of mourning should not be held during funerals, the official said.

The meeting also discussed the importance of framing a standard operating procedure (SOP) for frontline workers and using building infrastructures owned by churches as care centres or hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients in order to ease the load on government facilities, the official said. Health Minister R Lalthangliana was also present in the meeting.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)