Covid tests at Dhaka airport begin on Saturday: Minister

The much-awaited RT-PCR labs to conduct coronavirus tests for the departing passengers will start operation at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport from Saturday.

Health and Family planning Minister Zahid Maleque came up with the announcement while talking to reporters during his visit to the airport on Thursday to see the progress of setting up the labs there.

He said that some of the machines have already arrived in Dhaka and the passengers travelling abroad will be able to test for the virus at the airport by Saturday.

There will be 12 machines installed at six labs at the airport, the minister said.

At least 3 to 4.5 thousand people will be able to test coronavirus at these labs every day.

Rapid PCR Lab for fast testing-results and RT-PCR Lab for general testing will also be used at the labs, he added.