Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Friday said that state government was in the processing of sourcing equipment to set up a genome sequencing laboratory of its own.
Addressing a press conference in the city, he said the the health authorities in the state were facing difficulties in getting samples tested at National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune.
'NIV samples not just take 10 to 15 days (to return), some samples are not returned (at all),' he said.
Stating that there were only five cases of a different variants, the UK strain, in the state, the Health Minister said once the genome sequencing lab was set up, the health authorities would be able to identify Covid 19 strains prevalent in the the state and decide appropriate treatment protocols.
Stressing on vaccination, Mr Rane requested people above 45 years of age to vaccinate themselves.
'Vaccination reduces the impact of Covid. Mortality is brought down. It builds your immunity,' the health minister said.
Mr Rane said an outreach programme would be launched in the state to ensure that eligible people in villages get vaccinated.
He said block level officers (BLOs) would be roped in the process as they knew people above the age of 45.

Genome sequencing lab will be set up to track new Covid-19 strains: Vishwajit Rane.