SOPPENG - Soppeng Regency in South Sulawesi has launched a laboratory equipped with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) swab testing kits as part of the region’s effort to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The Regional Health Laboratory was inaugurated by South Sulawesi Governor Nurdin Abdullah on Wednesday (22/4).
“I believe Soppeng can [detect COVID-19] even quicker thanks to its own lab, without the need to conduct rapid testing,” said Mr Abdullah as quoted by Antara.
On the same occasion Mr Abdullah also monitored COVID-19 handling in nine other regencies: Bantaeng, Bone, Bulukumba, Jeneponto, Pinrang, Sidenren Rappang, Sinjai, Takalar, and Wajo. As of Wednesday, South Sulawesi has 275 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 818 people under monitoring and 321 patients under supervision.
Starting this Friday (24/4), the City of Makassar will impose large-scale social restrictions to cushion the spread of the coronavirus after 14 of 15 subdistricts in the city have recorded confirmed COVID-19 cases. In implementing the restrictions, Makassar will receive budget assistance from the South Sulawesi Provincial Government. (MS)