By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 7: The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) has said that the lab test for COVID-19 had been started in ten places across the seven states.
Speaking at a media briefing on Monday, spokesperson at MoHP Dr Bikash Devkota said that with the start of lab test at Dhulikhel Hospital, Bharatpur Hospital and Bhairahawa Hospital on Sunday, now the scope of lab test has reached ten different locations.
Dr Devkota informed that 107 coronavirus suspected patients were receiving treatment at isolation wards of various hospitals in seven states.
“Among them, 95 are receiving treatment outside the valley,” said Dr Devkota, adding that 9,168 returnees are being quarantined across the nation as of Monday.
The Nepal Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) has so far tested 1,697 samples of COVID-19 suspected as of Monday afternoon.
The ministry has noticed five more coronavirus suspects through its website and mobile apps on Monday. “We have suspected five of the respondents and added them to red zone as vulnerable to COVID-19,” said Dr Devkota.
The ministry has informed that the sample collection of returnees inside the valley was being carried out by the team led by Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD). The Nepali Army, Nepal Police and mayors of municipalities are tracing the returnees, informed Dr Devkota.
Medical aid
The Norvic International Hospital and Basanta Chaudhary Foundation have provided medical appliances to the Ministry of Health and Population. 
The foundation handed over the equipment to Minister for Health and Population Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal today, said Dr Devkota. According to Dr Devkota, the donated medical appliances include 2,000 N95 face masks, 48,000 surgical face masks and other medical equipment.