M F AHMAD
Daltonganj, April 8: RTPCR test for Covid is not available in Palamu as there is no cartridge for it. In place of RTPCR, a rapid antigen test (RAT) is being done which is known in the shortened form as an Antigen test for Covid.
Civil Surgeon Ashok Kumar on being contacted today said, “It’s true the RTPCR test is not going on. There is no cartridge for it. We are trying to get it.”
He said the Covid lab in the Medinirai Medical College used to conduct RTPCR but as the cartridge for it is unavailable, this lab is not undertaking this test right now.
Ashok Kumar said he is in touch with the concerned officials for making the cartridge available for the RTPCR.
On average less than a dozen people come to the Covid test centre in the Medinirai Medical College Hospital in Daltonganj per day.
Out of this, some are the accused persons who are tested for Covid before being remanded in judicial custody as the central jail here refuses to admit any accused if he or she does not have a Negative Covid test report.
