CCMB, IPM to become new centres for COVID-19 tests in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: With the cases of COVID-19 increasing in the state, Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM) and Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) have been designated as the new Corona virus testing labs in Telangana. These will be an addition to the current four testing centres.

Dr G Srinivas Rao, director of public health, Telangana, told NewsMeter, “Till date Gandhi Hospital was the only government-run testing centre in the state. Apollo, SRL, and Medics are the other three private labs approved by the government for COVID-19 testing. CCMB and IPM will have elaborate facilities in comparison to the other four centres.”

R.K Mishra, CCMB director, said a few companies have come forward with ideas to tackle the issue and CCMB is supporting them. “We are testing and validating the diagnostic kits proposed by the companies. It may take up to two or three weeks. Only if the kits give 100 per cent results they will they be approved,” Mishra told a news agency.

According to the latest health bulletin released by the Telangana health ministry, a total of 764 samples have been collected so far for the COVID-19 tests. Meanwhile, Telangana has 13 hospitals designated for Corona virus patients with a bed capacity of 335.

On Thursday, the total number of cases stood at 44 (the first patient has been discharged and is recovering). The patients have been kept in isolation wards at the Gandhi Hospital and the Ronald Ross Fever hospital.

Dr Arjun Kumar from the Gandhi Hospital said, “Hospitals are graded as levels A, B and C. Level C is most important. There are seven hospitals under level C. All major cases will be taken to those hospitals. Gandhi Hospital, Koti Hospital, Fever hospital, and NIMS come under level C.”

Officials at the Gandhi Hospital have been directed to make full use of the hospital’s facilities for treatment of the Corona virus. Operations in Gandhi Hospital are already being done at Osmania Hospital. Director of Medical Education Ramesh Reddy has ordered all the departments to be moved out till the end of March. King Koti Hospital is also on the alert.