The authority concerned has started sending samples to the capital again as the PCR labs at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College and Shahjalal University of Science & Technology (SUST) can't cope with the rush of the rising number of samples every day.
Long queues are seen at the Shahid Shamsuddin Hospital's gate for giving samples every day.
In two shifts they can manage to test only 188 samples each whereas about 1000 samples are collected everyday. Over 1500 samples were now pending at the labs. It has caused the delay in releasing test reports too.
This is why some of the samples are sent to Dhaka.
The Osmani Medical College PCR Lab started operation from April 07 while the SUST lab started functioning from May 19. The first one now testing samples from Sylhet district only while the other is testing samples from Sunamganj district only. The samples from Habiganj and Moulvibazar are being sent to Dhaka.
In such a situation, the locals at a meeting on Sunday had demanded setting up of another lab at Sylhet Agricultural University lab alongside raising the sample collection booths for easing the situation.
Meanwhile, the Director of the Osmani Medical College Hospital Brigadier-General Yunusur Rahman had written to the Health Ministry for setting up 02 more labs in the Sylhet division to meet the pressure of rising demand for tests.
Contacted, the Assistant Director at the office of Divisional Director, Health Dr. Md. Anisur Rahman told this correspondent today, about 1000 samples are collected in the division daily whereas maximum 376 samples are tested maximum on the 02 labs. This is why we have to send 500 to 500 samples to the capital, he added.
The proposal for setting up new lab at Habiganj Sheikh Hasina Medical College is awaiting approval, he said adding, another could be set at the Sylhet Agricultural University.
Meanwhile, 69 more people tested Covid-19 positive in the Sylhet division during the last 24 hours. Of them, 35 hailed from Sylhet and 34 from Sunamganj. All they tested positive at the 02 labs in Sylhet.
The total infected number stood at 1546 including 882 in Sylhet, 304 in Sunamganj, 208 in Habiganj and 152 in Habiganj, the Health officials said.
With another man died of the viral disease in Sylhet district today, the division's death toll stood at 35 including 26 in Sylhet, 03 in Sunamganj, 02 in Habiganj, and 04 in Moulvibazar.
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