MANGALURU: Trial run commenced in newly set up virology lab at

on Wednesday in a move that could help speed up testing of potential Covid-19 patients in this coastal district. At present, swab samples of patients suspected to have contracted the disease are sent to

, 171km away for confirmatory test. Authorities here have to wait for at least 48 hours to receive the reports.

Dr Y Bharath Shetty,

North MLA, also nodal authority to deal with medical hospitals in

district told reporters that certain changes suggested by

(IMCR) for running the lab has been incorporated and every effort is on to obtain certification for it as per norms at the earliest. Results of the tests carried out here are being compared with samples sent to HIMS, Dr Shetty said.

The virology lab here has obtained necessary PCR kits needed to carry out the tests, he said, adding the lab has the capacity to conduct an average of 80-100 test per day. Once the testing process at the lab that can also carry out confirmatory tests for other viral outbreaks stabilises and produces results in conformity with ICMR laid down guidelines, steps will be taken to obtain certification for it and reports for swab samples obtained locally, he noted.

In addition, fever clinics have been started at the four taluk hospitals, eight medical college hospitals and at Wenlock Hospital, he said. Authorities have kept 100 beds at Wenlock Hospital with 15 ICUs and two paediatric ICUs ready to deal with stage one of the pandemic. Physicians and staff from Wenlock and

will manage this facility and other medical college hospitals have been placed on stand by if the situation aggravates, Dr Shetty said.

Owners of private hospitals have agreed to provide dialysis service to patients who hitherto depended on Wenlock Hospital for their needs at rates charged at the government facility. The new block at Wenlock Hospital will be used to quarantined/positive cases on different floors and adjoining AYUSH block as resting and quarantine facility for doctors. This block will also serve as store for personal protection equipment for medical professionals, he said.