UP: COVID-19 test stopped at BHU lab as scientist becomes infected

VARANASI: The COVID-19 sample test at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) microbiology laboratory in UP stopped for three days after a lab scientist was tested positive.
Varanasi district magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma on Friday afternoon confirmed, "One BHU lab scientist has tested COVID-19 positive. After she was found infected, samples of all 13 lab staff were tested and found negative.But, the lab has been closed for three days for proper sanitisation."
The DM said that as precautionary measure all staff have been quarantined for 14 days. He said, a new batch of doctors and lab technician is being trained to run BHU lab when it will be opened after three days.
Samples of 13 east UP districts are tested in this lab. As an alternative arrangements, he said, samples being collected in Varanasi and Chandauli will be sent to KGMU Lucknow. Samples of other 11 districts will be sent to other labs of state till BHU lab is reopened.
During intial contact tracing the officials found that some of her family member had suffered fever after which she also fell ill, although her family members were found negative when tested, he added.
After detected of one more COVID-19 positive case the total number of infected persons reached to 61 in Varanasi. Bagbariyar Singh locality of Chetganj area, where she dwells, has been declared a hotspot. With it total number of hotspots in district reached to 25.