COVID-19 lab in Chitwan closes for a week

CHITWAN: The lab set up in Chitwan to conduct the COVID-19 test has been closed for a week in a lack of test-kits.

Requisition has been made with the Ministry of Health and Population for the test-kits but to no avail, according to lab chief Dr Nitu Adhikari. He added that the works in the lab have been affected in the absence of the kits.

The nasal and throat swabs collected from the suspected ones here lately have been sent outside the district for a test.

“The test-kits for COVID-19 are in short supply in Nepal. Hence, the Ministry could not dispatch the test-kits,” explained Dr Adhikari.

The lab in Chitwan has made requisition for 1,200 test-kits. Earlier the lab here had received 383 kits in the first lot. Later it got 100 kits which only last for two days for the rest.

Although it’s going to be a month since the lab was established here, it has received 484 kits so far. A total of 12 nasal and throat swabs were collected from the suspected ones in Chitwan on Monday which was sent to Hetauda in lack of such kits.

All the results had come in negative, according to information officer at Bharatpur Hospital, Leeladhar Poudel.