Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 13: Due to a spike in the number of Omicron cases in Srinagar, the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Soura has decided to speed up coronavirus testing by running the testing facility round the clock after a three-month hiatus.
The SKIMS decision to expedite testing is consistent with the administration’s vow to prioritize testing for early disease detection in order to aid in the reduction of the COVID 19 problems. On Wednesday, the directorate of health administered almost 40,400 COVID-19 tests throughout Kashmir, the largest single-day number during the region’s two-year pandemic.
Insiders at the institution told Excelsior that the hospital administration asked them to resume night time testing due to an increase in the number of cases over the last few days and Omicron danger. “A surge in samples has generated a backlog of over 2000 tests. This measure would not only clear the backlog but would also allow for additional tests to be processed each day”, an official said.
On average, he said, the lab handles roughly 1500-2000 tests every day, and the processing rate will double by having the lab open 24 hours a day. “Right now, we process around 2000 tests per day, and the night shift will double that rate of processing. The change will ensure that the reports, which include travellers, are available on schedule”, he said.
Despite the fact that at least three members of the institute are COVID positive and the lab is facing a staff dearth, the institute has begun the overnight shift. “We are managing for the time being, but if samples rise, we may need more staff, and we are attempting to recruit microbiology students to make up the difference”, he said.
Dr Bashir Fomda, HOD Microbiology, declined to comment on the issues, claiming that they were forbidden from speaking to the media.
Parvez Koul, Director of SKIMS, said that diagnostic and therapeutic services will be scaled up as needed.
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