COVID-19: Testing of samples begins in Mizoram

Mizoram began testing samples of persons suspected to be infected with novel coronavirus at a state-run hospital here on Tuesday, Health Minister Dr R Lalthangliana said. He said that a virology laboratory was set up at the Zoram Medical College within eight days of receiving the ICMR's approval.

Equipment for the laboratory was sourced from the Mizoram University and the Pachhunga University, he said. Nasopharyngeal swab samples of 14 doctors, nurses and health workers treating the lone COVID-19 patient in the state and the sample of another person suspected to be infected with the disease were tested in the laboratory, he said.

Eleven of the 15 samples have tested negative for coronavirus while results for the remaining samples are expected on Wednesday, the minister said, adding that the samples were tested as a precautionary measure and they did not exhibit any coronavirus-like symptom. The condition of the 50-year-old COVID-19 patient, who had travelled to the Netherlands, is stable, he said.

The state government has also procured 1,000 testing kits from Assam, Lalthangliana said. Security has been beefed-up along Mizoram's borders with Assam and Tripura.

Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme state nodal officer Dr Pachuau Lalmalsawma told PTI that 58 samples have been tested till Monday and all barring that of the COVID-19 patient have tested negative for the disease. The state government is conducting a stricter screening of truck drivers transporting essential commodities to Mizoram, he said.