By Shiva Raj Dhungana, Achham, June 9: Delay in conducting the PCR test and providing reports of the swabs of those who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 in RDT has not only worried those in quarantine but also lengthened their stay in the district.

It has been ten days since the swabs of 10 people staying in the quarantine of Jaygadh Rural Municiaplity were collected in a hurry and sent to Provincial Hospital in Dhangadhi and then that of 99 of Mellekh RM and 64 of Chaurpati RM for testing. But no report of the testing has been received as yet.

Dev Joshi, information officer at District Health Office Achham, said that PCR report of 266 throat swabs which were sent from May 31 to June 6 to Dhangadhi for testing was yet to be received.

PCR report of 99 people who were in close contact with the infected at Mellekh Rural Municipality, 64 of Chaurpati RM, 10 each of Dhakari, Bannigadhi, Jaygadh RM, 27 of Sanphebagar Municipality, 13 of Turmakhand RM, 4 of Pandhdewal Binayak Municipality, 1 person of Kamal Bajar Municipality and 18 of Accham district hospital was awaited.

Despite completing fixed days for staying in quarantine, people who returned home from India have been unable to go to their homes due to delay PCR report.

"It has been almost a month since they came to the quarantine for staying. We have not been able to send them to their homes due to delay in getting the report," said Bir Bahadur Saud, ward chair of Mellekh RM ward 4 from where swabs of 99 people have been collected and sent for testing.

Local levels are having difficult time to manage the quarantine for not getting the PCR report in time.

Delay in the PCR report of those who tested positive in RDT for the virus and those who were in close contact with them has made the situation quite confusing and annoying.

"People ask every day from different places about the report. We have nothing to say except for that we have not received the report yet," said Dev Joshi, information officer of Accham district health office.

Dilip Kumar Shrestha, information officer at Seti Provincial Hospital, informed that PCR test report was delayed due to the lack of sufficient number of testing machines. "Delay is caused as there are many swabs for testing in queue."

It is informed that a machine tests swabs of 275 people in a day. Health directorate of Sudur Paschim State had a few days ago notified all nine districts to halt swab collection for five days.

Of 741 swabs collected from Achham, report of 476 has been received, and 14 have been confirmed to have got infected with SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19.

Shortage of VTM and RDT

Swab collection of those who tested positive for the virus in RDT has also been halted due to shortage of VTM. "There is a need to collect swabs of 200 immediately, but it has been halted due to shortage of VTM," said information officer Joshi. He said that due to lack of required kit, even RDT of those who completed 14-day stay in quarantine after coming home village from India has not performed. Over 12 thousand 500 people have returned to Achham district from India after lockdown was announced in Nepal 77 days ago.