Banke, May 15: Eight people found to be infected with coronavirus at Narainapur in Banke today had arrived here from India just three days ago. They made their travels back home by using a clandestine route amidst the nationwide lockdown against the virus.   

They had been kept in quarantine along with those rescued from the Nepal-India border in Narainpur few days ago. According to Public Health Office, Banke's focal person Naresh Shrestha, a medical squad from the District Public Health Office, Nepalgunj on Wednesday collected throat swab samples from 45 people.

Of them, eight males aged 18,20,22,25,25, 27,32 and 36 years from Nairainpur wards 1,3 and 5 had tested positive for the virus. The test was conducted at the Nepalgunj-based Bheri Hospital.   

Until the filing of this report, preparations are underway to bring them to Nepalgunj.   

Presently, there are 441 people in quarantine in Narainapur. They all had come from India. Lately, Narainapur has witnessed the highest number of people arriving homes from India across the district. 

The detection of eight cases at once has highlighted the need of taking more effective measures to control further spread of virus. Collection of swab samples from other people in quarantine is going on for the PCR test procedures. It is said that 407 people entered Nairanapur in the past three days.   

Additional workforce ensured or test   

The District Public Health Office has ensured additional human resources required for corona testing laboratory to expand the testing coverage.

According to focal person Shrestha, 20 health workers (lab technicians and lab assistants) from several hospitals and local health facilities in the district were imparted training for swab collection.   

Bheri Hospital's medical superintendent Dr Prakash Thapa expressed his hope for support and cooperation from the people's level in the collection process.   

Till Thursday, 1,108 swab samples, out of collected 1,118, were tested in the Bheri Hospital. Of them, the results of 1084 have come negative while remaining 24 tested positive for the virus.   

Similarly, swab samples of 30 people including staffs and doctors at the Kohalpur-based Armed Police Force Hospital have been collected for the testing, after a hospital staff was tested for the virus.

Published on: 15 May 2020 | The Rising Nepal