Elderly who traveled to Mustang from Bauddha tests positive for Covid-19

Published On: June 22, 2020 08:00 AM NPT By: Santosh Pokharel

108 people test positive in a single day

POKHARA, June 22: An elderly man has tested positive for Covid-19 in Mustang. According to the Gandaki Province Health Directorate, an 83-year-old male from Gharapjhong Rural Municipality tested positive for the virus. Previously, this himalayan district had no record of the Covid-19 infection. However, after this senior citizen tested positive for Covid-19, the virus has now spread to all 11 districts in the province.

The man had traveled from Bauddha, Kathmandu to Gharpajhong Rural Municipality-1 last week and was staying at Chairo camp. Previously, he first tested positive through an RDT test and was kept in the isolation ward of Mustang District Hospital. According to the department of health services in Mustang, his swab sample was then sent to a Pokhara laboratory for PCR testing and he tested positive for the virus.

As mentioned by Tikaram Bhandari, the head of the health department in Mustang, the patient cannot look after himself and has been taking medication for high blood pressure and both of his eyes are extremely weak. However, despite having such health complications, the patient remains out of danger.

“Because of the patient’s health condition, he was looked after by his son-in-law at the isolation center,” said Bhandari. The swab sample of his son-in-law was also sent for PCR testing but it tested negative for the virus. “Although the son-in-law's swab sample tested negative, we have been checking on him regularly as he has been staying with the infected patient,” Bhandari said adding, “Considering the risk of transmission of the virus, we have not allowed the patient’s son-in-law to roam around. He’s strictly ordered to stay inside”.

A total of 20 people had traveled from Kathmandu to Mustang along with the old man. Seventeen of them have been kept at a quarantine facility and their swab samples have been sent for testing, according to Bhandari.

Chairo camp is now sealed off and with this, 50 other people have also tested positive for the virus in Gandaki province, according to the health directorate of the province.

Dr Binod Bindu Sharma , director of the Gandaki Province Health Directorate, mentioned that two people have tested positive for the virus in Tanahu, 29 in Baglung and 18 in Nawalpur. On Saturday alone, a total of 108 people tested positive for the virus. So far, Gandaki has reported 488 Covid-19 cases.