KATHMANDU: As many as 32 persons who arrived from India have been infected with COVID-19 in the last six days.
An antigen test performed at a health desk at the Indian border confirmed the infection in 32 people.
The government has operated the health desks on the border more actively as the infection rate in India is increasing. According to Director of Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, Department of Health Services, Dr. Krishna Poudel, those who tested positive for antigen were also tested for PCR.
He said that some of those who tested positive in PCR will also be tested through gene sequencing.
“We are even preparing to test gene sequencing for some of the PCR positives,” he said.
New variants are appearing in India of late. So, we have decided to test whether there is a new variant by performing gene sequencing in some of the PCR positive ones.
The government has directed to screen citizens coming from Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and other states of India on priority basis after the surge in coronavirus infection.
Recently, health desks have been set up at 14 border checkpoints with India. The Ministry of Health and Population has been providing 10 surgical masks to every person entering Nepal through these checkpoints.
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