BITID fail to provide coronavirus report even after 120 hours

A female journalist of the Bangladesh Television Chattogram centre has not got her coronavirus test report from the Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases (BITID) in Chittagong even 120 hours after giving a sample.

BITID usually gives out coronavirus test reports within 24 hours of sample collection. 

The journalist said that a team from BITID took a sample from her on April 17 and told her that she would get the results after 24 hours.

However, even after five days, she is yet to get her results as of today, she added. 

The institution said the reports are being delayed because of a shortage of manpower and power outages. 

The journalist said that she had to go through a lot of trouble just to get tested for coronavirus in the first place, but it seems people might die just waiting for the results to come. 

She also said that she has almost recovered after consulting a doctor and taking medication for the fever and cold, so the results would be pointless at this point. 

"Samples from 10 districts are being tested on one machine here, which is why we cannot produce results within a certain time. We work from 8 am to 10 pm and give more than 100 results daily," said Director of BITID Dr MA Hasan Chowdhury.

He further added that the female journalists' sample results will be given today. 

"Since Chittagong Medical College and Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University are preparing for coronavirus sample testing, soon this crisis will reduce," said MA Hasan.