KATHMANDU: The government has permitted private laboratories across the country to conduct COVID-19 testing.

Speaking at a regular virtual press briefing, Dr Jageshwor Gautam, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population, said that swab samples of people will be sent to the government-permitted private laboratories to conduct COVID-19 testing.

The decision of the government comes at a time when there are piles of swab samples at all government laboratories across the country.

“The government will bear the cost of testing,” he said.

Though the government has allowed private labs to conduct testing, it has not permitted them to collect swab samples on their own.

Currently, the government is conducting COVID-19 tests at 20 laboratories across the country.  

 
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