FT ONLINE

Bogura Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College started coronavirus testing in its microbiology lab today.

"We began the test around 11:00am…. will test 5-7 samples today. From tomorrow, we will go for full-fledged operation," Principal of the medical college Rezaul Alam told our Bogura correspondent.

Mohsina Alam Shaheed, head of the microbiology department of the medical college, said, "The PCR machine and other equipment came here early this month. The PCR machine was installed in the lab on Wednesday and Thursday."

Later, officials from IEDCR trained the technologists of the medical college, she said, adding that three doctors and three technologists are working in the lab.

"We have received 42 permanent PPE, 45 disposable PPE and 15 KN95 masks today; we can test 188 samples in a day from now on," Mohsina added.

Gaosul Azim Chowdhury, civil surgeon of the district, said, "We received total 37 samples today. We will send those to the medical college lab tomorrow."

Samples from the adjacent districts like Sirajganj, Naogaon, Joypurhat will also be tested in this lab, the civil surgeon said.

However, 332 samples from Bogura have been sent to the IEDCR and Rajshahi Medical college lab so far and only two were diagnosed with coronavirus, said the civil surgeon.