KATHMANDU: Nepal’s Health Ministry, in its regular press briefing, shared the latest updates on coronavirus contagion from across the country, and government’s response to the health crisis.

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A screenshot of today’s media briefing.

Till date, 1,021,503 tests through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method have been carried wherein 12,205 tests were carried out in the last 24 hours.

At present, there are 5,428 people under quarantine in various facilities across the country. The number of active cases Nepal, currently, is 20,891.

1,559 new cases of the coronavirus infection were registered today taking the national tally to 77,817.

As many as 1,057 persons earlier diagnosed with the disease, admitted in various healthcare facilities have been discharged following recovery in the last 24 hours. With the recent addition, the national COVID-19 recovery tally has now reached 56,428.

Meanwhile, seven fatalities were reported today with which the covid-19 death tally has now advanced to 498.

READ MORE: Seven Covid-19 fatalities recorded on Wednesday, tally shifts to 498

Ministry Spokesperson Dr Jageshwor Gautam informed that the ministry has provided a 24-hour ultimatum to eight private PCR laboratories to comply with the prices as allocated by the government. Any failure to do so, will lead to the suspension of testing permits for the eight laboratories--found guilty of charging hefty prices for conducting PCR tests--as well as the labs will be dealt in line with the existing black marketing laws, which have been.

As of today, the country has witnessed 77,817 cases of the coronavirus infection while 56,428 people have been discharged from hospitals. Meanwhile, 498 COVID-19 fatalities have been confirmed.