KATHMANDU: As the country recorded rapid rise in coronavirus infection in recent days signaling immediate risk of the third wave, the government has consulted the specialists for the containment of coronavirus.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Saturday held discussions with the infectious disease specialists and office-bearers of Nepal Medical Council and Nepal Medical Association regarding the control of the virus.

On the occasion, specialist doctors suggested the government increase the scope of coronavirus tests, develop a dedicated COVID hospital in each district, ensure isolation centers, set up holding centers and manage sufficient human resources to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

In recent days, a large number of doctors involved in the treatment of COVID patients from Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) and Bir Hospital contacted the virus, posing a threat of human resources crisis for the treatment of COVID patients.

Infectious disease specialist of Patan Hospital Dr. Janak Koirala said that doctors offered suggestions to the PM for ensuring medical persons’ good health and the ways to ensure sufficient human resources for the treatment amid the infections among the doctors, nurses, and other health personnel.

On the occasion, medical personnel expressed their concerns over the unnecessary crowds despite the government’s appeal to stay home and avoid public gatherings. The doctors also said that the government should strictly impose the public health protocol, adding that there was no situation to impose a lockdown immediately.

In response, PM Deuba said that the new Omicron variant of coronavirus added challenges in the control of coronavirus. The PM said that the government had targeted to vaccinate all eligible citizens by mid-April.

The PM was of the view that the citizens would be given a booster dose against COVID by fully vaccinating all while pledging to establish holding centers in the border areas and ensure doctors in the health institutions.