Khandu seeks from PM faster COVID testing machines, investment
Attending a video conference chaired by the primeminister with chief ministers, Khandu also urged Modi tocontinue facilitating investments in the Northeast so theregion's economy is not compromised due to the pandemic.
"Since Arunachal has mandated testing of all personsentering the state, I request PM@Narendramodi Ji to supportfor TrueNat testing machine approved by @ICMRDELHI for speedy#coronavirus test," he tweeted after the conference.
TrueNat is a tuberculosis testing machine, which theIndian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has approved forcoronavirus tests as it can provide results within an hour, ifthe case is negative. However, for positive cases, it has tobe reconfirmed through other methods.
The Arunachal Pradesh CM said the state's lone RT-PCRlaboratory has been under tremendous pressure as people stuckoutside because of the lockdown have started arriving.
Earlier in the day, Khandu held a meeting with membersof the Arunachal chapter of the Indian Medical Association(IMA) and deliberated on ramping up the state's testingcapacity using cheaper and faster machines such as TrueNat,official sources said.
"Fight to contain #coronavirus must not havecompromising effect on economy. Northeast has great potentialareas for investment, particularly in horti & agri sector. Irequest PM @naremdramodi Ji to continue working to bring ininvestment for the region," Khandu tweeted.
All Northeastern states are working closely and as ateam to collectively fight the coronavirus, he added.
In another post, Khandu said, "In the fight against#coronavirus, our tribal bodies, community apex bodies, womenorganisations have been actively working on the groundcarrying forward the message of PM @narendramodi Ji of usingface mask, to maintain social distance, to volunteer to fight#COVID19."
He also praised the "decisive" leadership of the primeminister and said the lockdown has helped slow the spread ofthe coronavirus.
Khandu said the pandemic has prompted states torevisit the status of health infrastructure and work to createa robust health care system. UPL NNSK SK