PCR machine to be installed in Doti

Doti: PCR machine procured by the Far-Western Provincial Government was sent to the district hospital in Doti on Wednesday. The district hospital informed that the machines and swab testing materials were brought in two trucks.

The PCR machine has the capacity to test 96 samples at a time and about 700 samples a day, said Surya Bista, a contact person for covid-19. Yagya Raj Joshi, chairman of the hospital management committee, said that the far-western state government had decided to start PCR testing in Kanchanpur, Baitadi and Doti last April and bought the PCR machines for the purpose.

A total of 583 corona cases have been reported in the district so far. Chief of the District Health Office, Ramesh Malasi, said that the test work could be started from August 4 as the construction work of the laboratory for PCR machine has also been completed. He informed that the machine came to Doti with a total investment of Rs 4 lakh from the Ministry of Social Development.

Earlier, swabs were sent to laboratories at Dhangadhi in Kailali, Dadeldhura and Teku Hospital in Kathmandu due to lack of corona testing machines in the district