A new test kit for detecting the novel coronavirus was developed by a team of scientists led by Valery Syamyonau, Head of Infectious Diseases Department at Vitsebsk Medical University, vitvesti.by reports.
The Belarusian Health Ministry has certified the new development on a fast-track basis.
It takes a patient only 1.5 hours to see the result of a domestic test, the results of the other tests available in the country usually arrive in 3.5 hours.
Moreover, Belarusian tests exclude false positive or false negative reactions. Their price is five times less than that of foreign analogues.
The production of test kits has been set up by SIVital company; its capacities allow to make up to 100,000 tests per week.
A number of neighbouring countries have already become interested in the product developed by Vitsebsk-based medical scientists. However, the tests will not be earmarked for export until Belarus is fully provided with the tests. The first deliveries are expected to go to the healthcare centres of Vitsebsk region.
As of April 10, the total number of the people who contracted the coronavirus infection has reached 1,981 in Belarus; 19 persons have died.
Belarus’ Vitsebsk region ranks second after Minsk in terms of the number of patients with coronavirus. It is also leading in the coronavirus fatalities along with Minsk. As reported earlier, Minsk infectious diseases hospital is almost full due to the coronavirus outbreak; the Belarusian military forces have set up a field hospital near Lepel (Vitsebsk region) in case the situation gets out of control.
