KATHMANDU, April 27: The government has permitted private labs as well to conduct diagnostic tests for the novel coronavirus.
Issuing a standard directive on the testing for the virus, the government has introduced a new provision that private labs, too, can conduct tests for COVID-19. “According to the new directive, private labs can carry out tests for the disease after getting permission from the Ministry of Health and Population,” said Dr Bikash Devkota, spokesperson for the ministry.
Meanwhile, PCR tests for the disease have begun at Rapti Academy of Health Sciences from Monday. With this, there are PCR test facilities at 16 different places across the country.
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The Province 1 government brought a 100-bed hospital into operation for COVID-19 tests and treatment at the Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences from Monday itself.
Total cases 52, active cases 36 in Nepal
Speaking at the regular press briefing by the MoHP, Spokesperson Dr Devkota said that no new case was detected on Monday. Of the 52 confirmed cases so far, 16 have already recovered and 36 are undergoing treatment at different hospitals. Of them, 31 patients are at the Biratnagar-based Koshi Hospital. One patient each in Dhangadhi and Bharatpur and three in Birgunj are also receiving treatment for the disease.
According to the ministry, a total of 53,534 tests--- 10, 471 via the PCR method and 43,083 via the RDT method, have been conducted so far for COVID-19.
According to the latest updates, 20,195 people are in quarantine while 106 are in isolation wards throughout the country.
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