Varanasi: The district administration did not get any test report from KGMU, Lucknow while Covid-19 tests at BHU lab remained suspended even on Monday. However, as markets reopened, retailers of essential commodities and drugs got a major relief.
Talking to TOI, district magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said, “We had sent 87 samples to KGMU on Sunday. But, we had not received any test report till late evening. Decision of BHU to restart tests at its microbiology lab is also awaited.” On Monday, 151 reports were sent to KGMU from Varanasi, he added.
The BHU lab had been closed on May 1 after a woman lab scientist was found infected. All 13 lab staff had been quarantined. Following the training of new batch of lab scientists and technicians as well as sterilisation process, the microbiology lab was expected to be restarted for Covid-19 test.
However, the BHU officials could also not make it clear when the tests will be restarted.
As an alternative arrangemen,t 45 samples had been sent to KGMU on May 2 and report of 44 claiming three new positive cases had come on Sunday. DM said that samples collected even on Monday had been sent to KGMU.
On the other hand, the shops of essential commodities, electrical and mechanical repair work, fodder and many non-essential goods were opened in markets between 10 am and 5 pm. As essential goods were available in past 40 days of lockdown, the retail outlets did not pull crowds.
But, the wholesale markets of foodgrain, edible oil, medicine and other goods were heavily crowded as retailers looked in a hurry to restock articles in their shops, which have become almost empty.
The DM said that it was reported that shops of many those articles, which were not listed for opening, had also been opened. The owners of such shops were warned to avoid opening their shops from Tuesday till any further order.
He said, in case they would be found opened on Tuesday also, stern action would be initiated against them.
Talking to TOI, district magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said, “We had sent 87 samples to KGMU on Sunday. But, we had not received any test report till late evening. Decision of BHU to restart tests at its microbiology lab is also awaited.” On Monday, 151 reports were sent to KGMU from Varanasi, he added.
The BHU lab had been closed on May 1 after a woman lab scientist was found infected. All 13 lab staff had been quarantined. Following the training of new batch of lab scientists and technicians as well as sterilisation process, the microbiology lab was expected to be restarted for Covid-19 test.
However, the BHU officials could also not make it clear when the tests will be restarted.
As an alternative arrangemen,t 45 samples had been sent to KGMU on May 2 and report of 44 claiming three new positive cases had come on Sunday. DM said that samples collected even on Monday had been sent to KGMU.
On the other hand, the shops of essential commodities, electrical and mechanical repair work, fodder and many non-essential goods were opened in markets between 10 am and 5 pm. As essential goods were available in past 40 days of lockdown, the retail outlets did not pull crowds.
But, the wholesale markets of foodgrain, edible oil, medicine and other goods were heavily crowded as retailers looked in a hurry to restock articles in their shops, which have become almost empty.
The DM said that it was reported that shops of many those articles, which were not listed for opening, had also been opened. The owners of such shops were warned to avoid opening their shops from Tuesday till any further order.
He said, in case they would be found opened on Tuesday also, stern action would be initiated against them.
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