By Nayak Paudel

Kathmandu, June 9: Since the beginning of June, an average of 4,000 tests have been conducted daily for COVID-19 in the laboratories across the country. The rate of tests has risen compared to the earlier days but experts said it was still insufficient. As per the World Health Organisation, a country’s best defence against COVID-19 is to identify, isolate, test and care for every case, and to trace and quarantine every contact.
However, experts in Nepal argue that the concerned authorities were unable to meet the requirements to fight against the global pandemic which has infected more than 3,200 individuals in Nepal and the rate is increasing every day.
“The number of cases is increasing day by day but the government’s strategy has not changed much. We are still unable to conduct enough tests compared to the rate of infection and returnees from different countries, mostly from India,” said Dr Baburam Marasini, former director of the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division.
While the rate of testing should be increasing, swab collection has been suspended for last few days, since June 6, in the Sudurpaschim State. 
As per the State’s Health Directorate, the only laboratory at Dhangadhi to test COVID-19 in the State received swab samples in excess of its capacity. With a capacity of testing only 250 samples a day, the lab has more than 1,000 samples pending to be tested.
According to experts, the situation in Sudurpaschim State is also a result and example of incapability of a state government.
“The state government should be capable of establishing some more labs with testing equipment itself. Rather than suspending swab collection and increasing the risk of further transmission, Sudurpaschim should be adding labs or increasing the capacity,” said Marasini. Sudurpaschim State is one of the virus-prone areas which received a significant number of Nepali returnees from India. The cases of COVID-19 in India have surpassed 247,000, which is higher than that recorded in Italy.
Experts suggested the government should intensify its surveillance in the border areas with India as many Nepalis are still returning noticed and unnoticed. “With the available capacity of laboratories, it is unsure if the required rate of testing can be done. The capacity should be increased by adding equipment, manpower and laboratories,” suggested Marasini.
Meanwhile, officials at the Health Ministry say that they are taking necessary steps to increase the number of testing.
Talking to The Rising Nepal, Information Officer at the Ministry of Health and Population Ganesh Shreevastav said, “The ministry is conscious of the present situation and is already in the process to increase the capacity of testing. The suspension in Sudurpaschim will also be lifted within a day or two.”
As per the ministry officials, along with the lab in Sudurpaschim, the ministry will upgrade the labs in other parts of the country so that similar incidents would not occur.
Meanwhile, the ministry said that the required equipment to upgrade the laboratory can only be imported faster through the centre rather than the state government; other than importing equipment, the state government is said to have been supporting the central government to fight against the pandemic in other sectors such as expanding quarantine and isolation facilities effectively.
“Amidst the mess caused by COVID-19, bringing laboratory and medical equipment has been lengthy and difficult. We are utilising our G2G relationship for swifter transport due to which the state government has not been asked for support regarding this,” said Shreevastav. As per Shreevastav, necessary equipment is being imported to upgrade the laboratories to increase the testing capacity.
While the government is also planning to ease lockdown, experts argue that a decision can be made only if enough individuals can be examined for COVID-19.
“Easing lockdown is mandatory and the government should address it at the earliest. However, without examining enough individuals for COVID-19 and analysing the result, easing lockdown alone will not be fruitful,” Sameer Mani Dixit, director of research at Centre for Molecular Dynamics Nepal, told the TRN.