Three in 4,000 found infected in KTM valley

-Sharad Sharma

July 16, Kathmandu:  Three people were found carrying the Corona Virus, when 4,000 residents of Kathmandu valley were tested for the same. The tested were those working in the frontline in crowded places in different parts of the valley, according to Director of the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, Dr Basu Dev Pandey.

The large number of tests was carried out to assess whether there is community transmission of the deadly virus in the capital. Of the three, two people had returned from abroad. However, the results of 800 more samples are yet to come out. Altogether, 5,000 samples were collected, Dr Pandey said. This shows that the community transmission has not taken place. However, there is no room for relaxation and all required preventive measures needs to be taken.

The samples collected were from banks, transport, land revenue and survey office and hospitals. The test was done through the PCR method. So far, 350 cases have been confirmed in the valley.  Meanwhile, the COVID-19 Crisis Management Centre is testing the swab samples of around 44,000 people who would arrive on repatriation and rescue missions into the country. This includes both coming from land and air route.

Of the 303,810 PCR tests carried out so far, 17,344 samples have been tested positive in the country, according to the Ministry of Health and Population. Of them, 11,249 have recovered from the virus. The death toll stands at 39.