Govt widens COVID-19 sample test criteria

The Ministry of Health and Population has broadened the criteria for the tests of COVID-19. At a news conference on Monday, Ministry’s Spokesperson Dr Bikas Devkota said that the area of surveillance for the sample test has been widened.

He said that provisions for the test have been made for those returning from foreign countries and people who contacted with the former in case they developed any symptoms. Others included in the extended test criteria are people aged 60 years and above, people with respiratory ailment, chronic patients and health workers.

So far, 600 people visited the Shukraraj Tropical Hospital in Teku for the test of COVID-19 and only one of them tested positive for coronavirus pneumonia, Dr Devkota shared. A 19-year-old girl who arrived home from France last Tuesday tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday. She is receiving treatment at the Shukraraj Tropical Hospital.

Likewise, he added that the government has brought the Kharipati-based quarantine for use again, where 71 people have been kept in isolation.

He shared that preparations are ongoing to add 1000 beds including 120 ICU beds in Kathmandu and 125 ICU beds in different states in the country for the treatment of infected ones.