DHULIKHEL: The Provincial Public Health Laboratory has come into operation at Dhulikhel from Saturday.

The laboratory was established considering the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the region.

The laboratory is expected to cover Kaverepalanchowk as well as neighboring Sindhupalchowk, Dolakha, Ramechhap, Sindhuli and Bhaktapur districts. It has the capacity to test more than 500 samples daily, said acting public health director of the Provincial Public Health Office Narayan Karki. The lab is currently running with seven lab technicians.

Swab samples will be collected from today to test for coronavirus.

Ideally, the public central laboratory is established in the provincial headquarters, which is Hetauda at the moment.

But it has been established in Dhulikhel for better reach and accessibility.

On Saturday, Minister for Social Development of Bagmati Yubaraj Dulal visited the newly established laboratory and took note of the preparations made for it operation.

The laboratory is expected to help diagnose various diseases including the current pandemic of coronavirus, he said.