Mizoram will soon have a virology laboratory to test Covid-19 patients, health minister Dr R. Lalthangliana said on Tuesday.

He said a core committee was formed on March 23 to set up the laboratory (biosafety level 3). Massive efforts are on with the help of legislators and experts from Zoram Medical College (ZMC), Regional Institute of Paramedical and Nursing Sciences, Mizoram University, Pachhunga University College and Central Agriculture University in Aizawl to commence testing, he added.

He said the government was in close contact with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for setting up the testing centre. “Unless there is big hurdle, I believe that Mizoram will have a Covid-19 testing centre very soon,” he said.

Lalthangliana said the state government had designated ZMC, which is also the state referral hospital, as its Covid-19 operational hospital. ZMC is located at Falkawn, around 16km from here.

He said Mizoram had not reported any new case since March 25, when a pastor detected with coronavirus.

“So far, 44 samples have been tested, including the infected patient’s relatives, and 43 of them tested negative, which is good news for the state,” he said.

The health minister said the state had not reported any community transmission ca-ses. “Mizoram is expected to be safe from further spread of the virus if measures taken to maintain strict vigil at Vaire-ngte checkpoint on the border with Assam,” Lal-thangliana said, quoting experts.

The state government has completely sealed its borders with neighbouring states and countries, except at Vairengte, to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Lalthangliana claimed that Mizoram was the best-performing state in observing the nationwide lockdown.

“Owing to the massive efforts made by local-level task forces, the state government did not face any major problem in connection with violation of social distancing norms during the lockdown,” he said.

Meanwhile, health secretary H. Lalengmawia said efforts are on to upgrade the tuberculosis lab at ZMC to be used as a Covid-19 testing lab. He said the Centre had approved the laboratory to be used for coronavirus testing.

Lalengmawia said the government was working hard to upgrade the laboratory by clubbing it with other machines from MZU and PUC. More than 70 per cent work has been completed and the lab is likely to become operational by Thursday, he added.