DHANGADHI, JANUARY 10

Covid-19 infections are becoming more widespread in the Sudurpaschim province as the number of India returnees increases.

The Covid-19 infection has been found in 520 persons in the province in the past five days alone. According to the Provincial Health Directorate, the number of infections on January 5 was 55, 120 on January 6, 158 on January 7, 125 on January 8, and 62 on January 9.

Many of those infected have returned from India via the Gauriphanta border checkpoint.

According to Assistant Chief District Officer Hiralal Chaudhary, all those who tested positive for the infections have been sent to the quarantine facility in Kanari, Dhangadhi.

'Those who test positive are sent to the Kanari-based quarantine facility, while the remainder are permitted to return home directly,' Chaudhary added.

He also mentioned that talks are underway to reopen the quarantine facility at the local level, as it was in the past.

Antigen testing are being conducted at border crossings, as well as PCR tests at Seti Provincial Hospital, Mahakali Provincial Hospital, Dadeldhura Hospitals, and other district hospitals.

Acting Chief Om Prakash Joshi of the Provincial Health Directorate said the number of patients in the province began to rise from January 4.

Sudurpaschim Provincial Laboratory has sent 164 samples to Central Laboratory in three phases so far. According to Ram Prasad Ojha, Chief of Provincial Laboratory, Dhangadhi, the Omicron variation was not discovered in 18 of the samples, while the results of the remaining 146 samples are still pending.