Nepal allows private labs to perform COVID-19 tests

KATHMANDU: The government has allowed private labs to perform COVID-19 tests through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method.

Speaking a regular press briefing on Monday, Spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population Dr. Bikash Devkota shared that the labs will need to apply for a separate permit before the Ministry to perform the tests.

He informed that the Dang-based Rapti Academy of Health Sciences (RAHS) has started testing samples for COVID-19 through PCR.

Nepal has conducted 10,471 COVID-19 tests so far and among them, 52 cases have been confirmed. A total of 16 patients have already been discharged following treatment.

According to Dr. Devkota, Nepal has not reported new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours.