Ballari,  Health Minister B Sriramulu inaugurated a Covid-19 testing centre at Vijayanagara Institute of Medical Sciences in Ballari on Monday. 

Deputy Commissioner S S Nakul informed that the laboratory is equipped with two types of equipment. As many as 30 throat swabs can be tested in one day with the help of one equipment and nine samples can be tested with the help of another, which has been purchased at a cost of Rs 16.50 lakh from the funds of District Disaster Management Fund. 

The laboratory will operate around the clock with staff working in two shifts. Doctors and technicians have been posted accordingly. This would enable the administration to get the samples tested at the earliest. The centre would also be of immense help to the neighbouring districts. 

It will function under the guidance of VIMS Director Dr B Devanand.