RT-PCR tests begin at Ctg airport

The RT-PCR Covid-19 detection tests for expatriates started at Chattogram's Shah Amanat International Airport yesterday.

Hasan Shahriar Kabir, Chattogram divisional director of DGHS, said expatriates would have to come to the airport at least six hours before their flight.

The RT-PCR testing was a longstanding demand of expatriates from Chattogram, especially those who are travelling to Middle Eastern countries,

Abdul Mannan, a Qatar expatriate from Raozan upazila in Chattogram, said earlier there was no arrangement for Covid testing at the airport and expatriates from Chattogram had to go to Dhaka to avail of the service.

Many organisations, including Nagarik Udyog, have been urging for an RT-PCR lab at the airport, as most counties in the Middle East do not allow expatriates without a Covid negative certificate tested through the RT-PCR machine.

A total of four private organisations have been given permission for setting up laboratories to test Covid19 through RT-PCR at the Chattogram airport, said Dr Asif khan, deputy civil surgeon of Chattogram.

The organisations are Chevron Clinical Laboratory from Chattogram, Prescription Point and Labaid from Dhaka and Modern Hospital from Cumilla, he said.

"The fee for testing has been fixed at Tk 1,600," said Civil Surgeon Dr Elias Chowdhury.