Kohima COVID-19 test lab to be functional by May 12, Dimapur unit within 2 weeks: Govt in HC

Kohima, May 9 () The Nagaland government hasassured the high court that the laboratory in Kohima forconducting COVID-19 detection tests will be functional by May12.

The state government informed the Kohima bench of theGauhati High Court that finishing works for the lab have beencompleted and it would be functional by May 12.

Additional Advocate General T B Jamir, however, toldthe bench comprising of Justice Songkhupchung Serto andJustice Hukato Swu that since the same technicians would besetting up the lab in Dimapur, at least two weeks are requiredto make that unit functional.

The state government made the submission through aninterim application filed on Thursday, praying for extensionof time after the court on April 27 directed it to make thetwo labs functional within 10 days.

The court on Friday directed the state government tomake all efforts to make the lab at Kohima functional withinfive days and the one at Dimapur within two weeks.

After two weeks, the state government should file anaffidavit of compliance but if the labs have not been madefunctional by then, the officials concerned should appear inperson and explain, it observed.

The directions come on a petition filed by oneKikrukhonuo, a resident of Kohima.

Samples from Nagaland are currently sent to Assam andManipur for COVID-19 tests.

So far, 805 samples have been sent and of them, 775have tested negative. Results of 30 are awaited, sources inthe Health and Family Welfare Department said. NBSSOM SOM