The Ministry of Health has said it will raise the number of daily laboratory tests conducted for Covid-19 up to 5,000 per day, after a shipment of medical equipment including 15 PCR devices is expected to arrive within the coming weeks.

The new established laboratories will receive the equipment and devices, after medical teams at these facilities complete their training course, said the ministry.

The highest daily rate for Covid-19 tests in Libya stands at 1353 tests until June 18, according to the Health Ministry.

It noted that the PCR device is used to test Covid-19 suspected cases, while the new US-made GeneXpert device from the US Food and Drug Administration is only limited to emergency cases.

The ministry explained that by this step it is seeking to protect its existing stock of the GeneXpert test supplies that account for 10,000 per month.