Mechinagar goes for ‘mass-testing’ of coronavirus

In a suspected transmission of coronavirus at the community level, Mechinagar municipality in Jhapa has started conducting ‘mass-testing’ from Sunday onward.

Mechinagar municipality and the District Health Office Jhapa have jointly started ‘mass-testing’ from the eastern checkpoint at Kakadbhitta.

Swab samples were collected from 117 local residents for corona tests on the first day, shared coordinator of Mechinagar Social Development Committee, Nabin Baral.

There was a suspected coronavirus outbreak at the community level in Mechinagar following 20 on-duty armed police personnel who were diagnosed with COVID-19 infection in Kakadbhitta last Friday.

Municipality’s health section chief Shashikala Rai informed that swam samples were collected from 32 armed police personnel of Customs Revenue Battalion at Kakadbhitta and other 85 people including health workers, transport entrepreneurs, hotel entrepreneurs, journalists, and the general public on Sunday in the first phase.

So far 70 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 while 46 have returned home after recovery and 25 are still undergoing treatment.

The municipality sources said ‘mass-testing’ in the coming days as well.