By Bhakti Bilash Pokharel, Lahan, Sept. 8: Although COVID-19 is spreading in the community in  Lahan Municipality, many people who come in close in contact with the infected are shying away from giving swab samples for PCR testing which has increased the risk of further spread of the virus in the community.

The Lahan Municipal Health Section has appealed to the COVID-19 infected to give swab sample for testing with confidence.

Ram Sundar Yadav, Chief of Lahan Municipal Health Section, said, “So far three persons have lost their lives due to COVID-19 while number of cases has reached 83 here.”

The efforts of the health workers for contract tracing of those in contact with infected is failing.

People stay out of contact by switching off their phone at the mean time of swab collection even though their name is enlisted for swab collection.

Of 122 enlisted, only 52 have given swab sample for PCR testing.

In Lahan Municipality-7, many people that were proved to have come in contact with the COVID-19 infected have not given swab sample for PCR testing.

Showing concern, Chief Yadav, said that the people’s representatives, political leaders should cooperate in this issue.

If this negligence on the part of people who came in contact with the infected continues situation in Lahan will be terrible, said Yadav.

Kandaiya Prasad Gupta, ward chair of ward- 23 of the Lahan Municipality, said that one was confirmed with COVID-19 among the five people who gave the PCR testing.

Gupta said, “I am taking initiative for swab collection by enlisting people for the contract tracing.”

Rakesh Roshan, ward chair of ward-7, Lahan Municipality, said that even though this ward is considered to have more educated people but the hesitation of people on swab collection for PCR testing had made him worried.

Pradeep Chaudhary, ward chair of ward-9, Lahan Municipality said that after the death of an elderly, 65, the swab was collected for PCR testing of those in contact with the infected where five people tested positive for the virus.

Muni Sah, the mayor of Lahan, said that we have contacted people’s representatives, social leaders and political parties of all 24 wards of Lahan Municipality so that they would help to inspire upon the people who came in contact with the infected for PCR testing.

Raj Kumar Raut, human rights activist, urged the people not to hesitate to give swabs as the number of those recovering from the infection is very high and he stressed on the need to condemn the act of social discrimination towards the COVID-19 infected.

A local, Bishnu Lal Shah, attributed the people's hesitation to give swabs for testing to delay in getting the report as he said, "People have to wait for ten days to get the report. They become worried during this period. If the report is made given within three days as said, no one will shy away from giving swabs for testing."