KANCHANPUR, APRIL 4

As many as 56 Nepalis, who have returned home from several cities of neighbouring India, tested positive for COVID-19 in antigen tests yesterday and today.

Thirty-two cases of infection were found after the antigen tests on 767 Nepalis returning home from India via Trinagar entry point yesterday, said Armed Police Force SP Birendra Bahadur Air.

All the infected ones, who are between 14 and 60 years of age, have been kept in isolation set up by Dhangadi Sub-metropolitan City, he said. Among the infected, 15 are from Kailali district, two from Surkhet, seven from Achham, one from Kanchanpur, three from Doti, one from Jumla, one from Bajhang and two from Dadeldhura.

In view of the increasing cases of COVID in India, health desks were set up at the Nepal-India border to conduct antigen test on people crossing the border.

Nepal shares open border with India allowing easy passage of people.

However, lack of health workers at the health desks has created difficulties, it is reported.

Lately, three Nepalis, who returned home from India via Trinagar and Gaddachauki entry points, had tested positive for COVID-19 variants. The infected are reported to be in home isolation.

Lately, the number of Nepali migrant workers returning home from India has increased considering the wheat harvesting season and upcoming festivals such as Chaite Dashain and Bishu festival.

This has increased the risk of a second wave of the infection in the province.

A version of this article appears in the print on April 5, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.