By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 12: The Ministry of Health and Population has started sample test of coronavirus suspects at Bir Hospital.
Speaking at a regular media briefing on Saturday, spokesperson at the ministry Dr Bikash Devkota said that the hospital had started sample testing through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.
Dr Devkota informed that the test from Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, Teku will start from Sunday.
“With the addition of the PCR machine at the Bir and Teku hospitals, the government is testing samples of COVID-19 suspects in 12 locations across the nation,” said Dr Devkota.
In order to expand COVID-19 testing outside Kathmandu Valley, high capacity PCR machines are in installation process in other districts as well, said Dr Devkota.
The lab test through PCR method is being carried out at National Public Health Laboratory, Teku, BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Janakpur State Hospital, Janakpur, Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences, Pokhara, Surkhet State Hospital, Surkhet, Seti State Hospital, Dhangadhi, Vector Borne Disease Research and Training Centre, Hetauda, Kathmandu University Teaching Hospital, Dhulikhel, National Wheat Research Programme, Bhairahawa and Bharatpur COVID-19 Diagnostic Laboratory, Chitwan.
Dr Devkota informed that 897 specimens of coronavirus suspects had been tested within 24 hours across the nation on Saturday. Among them, 609 samples were tested at the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) in Kathmandu while 288 samples were tested in various labs outside the valley.
The government has conducted 4,426 sample tests for the COVID-19 till date nine of which were found infected with the virus. The first infected person has recovered and has resumed normal life, while the remaining eight infected persons are receiving treatment in designated hospitals.
Dr Devkota informed that 8,082 foreign returnees were in quarantine designated by the local and state governments.
During the press briefing, Dr Devkota also informed that currently 82 individuals are admitted to isolation wards at various hospitals across the country. Of them, 15 are in Kathmandu, while the remaining are in isolation wards of various hospitals outside Kathmandu.