COVID-19: Around 50,000 tests undertaken

Kathmandu - The government has so far carried out 49,336 tests for coronavirus across the country. At a press conference organized here today by the Ministry of Health and Population, it was shared that PCR test has reached 9,666 and Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) 39,670 so far.

According to the ministry spokesperson Dr Bikas Devkota, total 4,160 sample tests were undertaken in State-1 followed by 5,044 in State-2: 7,467 in Bagmati state, 4,871 in Gandaki state: 2,950 in State-5: 4,974 in Karnali state and 10,204 in Sudurpaschim state. Total people quarantined so far are altogether 14,731.

Likewise, 87 suspects, three in Kathmandu and 84 beyond Kathmandu Valley, are kept in isolation. The ministry had received total 1,900 calls at its call center in the past 24 hours. Concerned doctors had responded to the callers with solution, Dr Devkota shared. The tracing of the suspects is underway as three among total 25,906 who filled up assessment forms in mobile app brought up by the ministry are found to be COVID prone.

Total people in red zone so far are 290. Meanwhile, a 65-year-old man from Damak of Jhapa district was found to have contracted with the coronavirus on Friday evening. The infection was confirmed in a test carried out along with his son who had returned from Dubai on March 17.

On Friday evening, an infected girl has been cured and discharged from the COVID hospital in Bharatpur and preparations were underway to discharge a 27-year-old man after recovery, the ministry said. Of the total 49 infected people found in the country, 12 have been cured and returned home from hospital. Of the infected people, 30 are receiving treatment in Biratnagar, five in Birgunj, one in Dhangadhi and one in Bharatpur, said Dr Devkota, adding that health of those infected receiving treatment is normal.

The Ministry has also asked people to stay safe as risks of malaria have taken place with the onset of summer. Likewise, director of Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital Dr Jageshwor Gautam urged pregnant women to give special attention to their health during the lockdown, and seek medical consultation if needed.