By Our Correspondent, Saptari, Mar. 16: Saptari Health Office has established five more health desks on Nepal-India border to check the possible spread of COVID-19, a global pandemic known as coronavirus.

The health desks were established in Banainiya of Rajgadh Gaunpalika; Hanumannagar, Bhardaha and Rampur Malhaniya of Hanumannagar Kankalini Municipality; and Aurahi of Dakneshwori Municipality.

“Through various open-border areas in Saptari, thousands of people exit and enter the country. The health desks have been added to identify any suspects for the virus to prevent it from entering the country,” said Duniya Lal Yadav, chief of the Saptari Health Office.

The number of COVID-19 cases in India has surpassed 100.

Other than the newly established five health desks, the district has been operating six other health desks in different areas.

The six former health desks have been operating from Rajbiraj Airport; Belhi and Ramnagar Kodarkatti of Balan-Bihul Gaunpalika; Kusaha of Dakneshwori Municipality; Govinpur of Chhinnamasta Gaunpalika and Tilathi Customs in Tilathi Koiladi Gaunpalika.

On the other side, isolation ward has been established at the Gajendra Narayan Singh Hospital.

“With two beds, the isolation ward is ready. If we come across any positive or suspected case of COVID-19, we will keep the individual in the isolation ward,” said Dr. Dilip Kumar Sah, acting medical superintendent of the hospital.