KATHMANDU: The Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) has stated that a study will be launched in a few days to ascertain if the coronavirus has reached the community transmission stage.

The survey which will be conducted in all the provinces will facilitate future strategies to prevent and control the coronavirus, BBC Nepali reported quoting officials.

Some experts and local health officials have reported that the coronavirus has spread to the community level after finding that people without travel history have contracted coronavirus.

So far, government agencies have been claiming that the infection has only reached clusters or groups and not the community.

Doctors in Birgunj had claimed community transmission after a rapid surge in coronavirus cases, mostly among people without travel history.

The division, which had received instructions from the Ministry of Health a few days ago to carry out the study, has sought permission from the Nepal Health Research Council.

The surveyors and health technicians will be deployed in the respective areas, said EDCD Director Basudev Pandey.

“Samples can be collected in two weeks. The results will be known in a month,” Pandey said.

The survey will be conducted in all the provinces and will include people who have stayed in the country for six weeks in the age group ranging from children to senior citizens.

Pandey said the results of the study would make it easier to formulate strategies for infection prevention and control.