KATHMANDU, April 6: Ministry of Health and Population has said that lab tests for novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have begun in 10 different places throughout the country including Kathmandu.

Besides National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) in Kathmandu, real time PCR tests for this deadly virus have now started in Dharan, Hetauda, Dhulikhel, Bharatpur, Pokhara, Bhairahawa, Butwal, Surkhet and Dhangadi.

Speaking at a routine online press briefing by MoHP, the spokesperson Dr Bikash Devkota informed that a total of 1697 tests have been conducted so far in NPHL, Teku.

A total of 107 suspected patients have been kept in isolation around the country including 12 in various hospitals in Kathmandu. Similarly, 1168 persons have been kept at quarantine, according to Dr Devkota.

He further informed about the agreement reached between MoHP, Kathmandu metropolitan city, National Ambulance Services and CCMC on keeping ten ambulances standby. According to the agreement, 5 ambulances of NAS, 4 of the ministry and 1 of KMC will be mobilized.

He also stated a team of National Medical Council inspected different hospitals in the valley including Bir Hospital, National Trauma Center, TU Teaching Hospital, Civil Hospital and Kathmandu Medical College. “Inspection was mainly focused on the services being provided by the hospitals related to COVID-19 and the human resources in those health institutions,” Dr Devkota informed.

On the occasion, he informed that Norvic Hospital, Kathmandu and Basanta Chaudhary Foundation have jointly handed over 2000 pieces of N95 masks, 48000 pieces of surgical masks and 1000 sets of personal protection equipment (PPE) to the ministry today itself.

 
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