Covid-19: Sudurpaschim at high risk

The Sudurpaschim Province is at high risk of coronavirus as people are not taking adequate safety measures against the deadly virus, said health workers. Simple yet vital health protocol e g use of mask and adherence to social/physical distancing has been neglected here.

 The health safety measures are not followed even during the trans-border movement. Last three weeks' data maintained at Health Directorate, Dipayal, showed 127 new cases of coronavirus in the province. The province which shares border with India is at high risk of the infection amid the virus and death rates going up in India, said the Health Directorate.

The respective district administration offices have urged people to compulsorily wear mask, not to form a crowd but practice social distancing while being in public. But the urge has been flatly overlooked in most of the areas. Though the government has already called for not joining a gathering having more than 25 members, seminars and meetings continue to take place.

Of 5,071 antigen tests conducted so far at health desks set up at transits with neighbouring India, 140 have been tested positive for the virus.

Of the tests of 699 Nepalis returning home from India through Gaddachauki, Gauriphanda, Jhulaghat and Pulghat transits, 62 were tested positive for the deadly infection on Saturday alone.

To determine types of virus, it is required to conduct PCR tests again even if antigen tests are positive, said Dr Gunaraj Awasthi, Director at the Health Directorate. It takes 10 to 20 minutes to get antigen test report. Suspected persons entering Nepal through transits with India should get antigen tested at health desks established at the transit point, according to the Ministry of Social Development of the Province. They are required to stay at quarantine for at least 10 days.

Until mid-January in the Province, 56 people died from the infection, as per record at the Health Directorate. The Province reported nil death from the deadly virus so far after mid-January except one that took place in Kanchanpur some days ago.

The Ministry has not reported any death case from the infection at home-isolation. So far, since the coronavirus broke out in the country, the Province recorded 14,185 infection cases from a total of 138,380 PCR tests. Of the infected, 14,054 have got over the virus.