KATHMANDU: The Teku-based National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) has said it will not test any samples of people who do not show symptoms.

Runa Jha, Director at NPHL said according to the new guideline on the Covid-19 test issued by the Ministry of Health, the test will be performed only after those who have come in contact with the infected ones.

She said that several unnecessary samples had been received and the laboratory could not handle them. She asked all stakeholders to send samples as per the guidelines.

Jha said that the laboratory could not perform the test of sample sent by the Chief District Officer or Superintendent of Police from the districts now onwards. She said that although the samples received till yesterday will be tested, now only the samples received as per the guidelines will be tested.

According to her, the lab has been receiving more than 2,000 samples from Rautahat alone. Meanwhile, the lab can test one thousand samples.

At present, 21 laboratories across the country have not been able to meet the demand. In the far-western states, swab collection has been stopped since last Thursday.

The Ministry of Health has issued a new directive to tighten testing as laboratories are unable to carry out tests saying it is not necessarily important to test samples of the people with fever.

Experts, however, claim that the infection will spread further.

The government has said that Indian-returnees who are staying in quarantines will be tested for PCR only if they show symptoms.

But the studies have shown that most of the corona infections show no symptoms. Experts have been warning that the new guidelines will bring the infection to the community level.