Local governments in Kailali launch tracking for newcomers

Kathmandu - Local governments in Kailali have launched a search for those recently returned homes from aboard to stem the spread of coronavirus. Lamki Chuha municipality and Janaki rural municipality have already started collecting details of returnees to the localities while Tikapur municipality has started tracing campaign from today.

So far Lamkichuha has identified 484 people and Janaki rural municipality identified 237 people recently returned here from abroad. ''Rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for coronavirus has begun targeting these groups of people,'' said Lamkichuha's health chief Jayanti BC. ''We believe that some people are still trying to hide their identities and local representatives are searching for them.'' Fears of COVID-19 have further increased here following the detection of two infected in Lamki.

''We are trying to trace those who have not come into contact with us,'' BC added. In Tikapur, the second most populous town in Kailali after Dhangadhi, the campaign has kicked off from today, according to Tikapur's health chief Bala Bahadur Rawal. A total of 254 teams comprising health workers and volunteers have been mobilised to gather details of returnees and educate the locals about hand-washing techniques with the distribution of soaps.

Returnees from abroad will be urged to stay in self quarantine and take protective measures against the coronavirus. The data collection is expected to complete within next three days, said Rawal. The municipality has the record that 330 people returned home and the number is believed to have gone double. "Following the completion of data collection, we will go for a rapid test. So far 60 people have undergone RDT and throat swab samples of 37 have been tested, according to Rawal.

It may be noted that a 65-year-old woman tested positive for the virus on Monday, taking the infected toll to two at Lamki alone. The woman used to sell tea in Birgunj checkpoint along the Nepal-India border and she returned here recently. She was among 17 who had been quarantined at Lamki Multiple Campus and were allowed to go home as per the group's request, citing that they wished to celebrate the Nepali New Year with their families after their reports of RDT came negative when the lab reports of throat swab temples were awaited. Later the woman's PCR report came positive. She has been admitted to the Dhangadhi-based Seti State Hospital and other members in the group have been sent back to the quarantine. Hospital's Dr Jagadhi Joshi said the woman's condition is normal.