Life & Health

Covid-19 testing has been stepped up along the Nepal-India borders in Sudurpaschim Province in the wake of an uptick in infections in India.

Officials at the Sudurpashim Province Health Directorate said they had ramped up screenings at five different checkpoints in Kailali, Kanchanpur, Baitadi, and Darchula for infected nationals returning home from India.

Hemraj Joshi, the pandemic focal point for the directorate, said testing at the entry points has been intensified in light of the rising cases of a novel sub-variant of the Omicron version of COVID-19 in India and China. "We should all be aware of the risk of infection posed by the new subtype of Omicron," he said.

The test is accessible upon arrival at Trinagar customs and Khakrula checkpoint in Kailali, Gaddachauki in Kanchanpur, Jhulaghat of Baitadi, and Pulghat in Darchula for those returning from India.

“A professional health team has been deputed along the border areas since the first wave of the pandemic.  The province movement is aware of the arrival of the new sub-variant and working to minimize the risk,” Joshi added. 

Vaccines are in short supply in Sudurpaschim Province, as they are throughout the country. "Every six months, a booster dose should be provided. Vaccine procurement is currently happening and there is a worldwide scarcity, but it will arrive soon "Joshi stated.

'Holding centres' are also being prepared in Dhangadhi, Kailalia, and Mahendranagar,

Kanchanpur, to house people during the pandemic. "The vaccination programme will resume once the vaccines arrive. The citizens too should adopt health safety measures and become aware to be safe from the pandemic," he added.

According to the directorate, 635 individuals have succumbed to the Coronavirus infection in Sudurpaschim. Six hundred nineteen thousand three hundred seventy-three tests for coronavirus infection were performed in the province. Recently, no cases have been detected in this area.

With RSS inputs