By Deepak Prasad Gautam, Birgunj, July 24: As many as 32 people including five Indian nationals have tested positive for COVID-19 in Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test done at the Narayani Hospital, Birgunj, on Thursday.

According to the PCR test report made public by the Narayani Hospital on Thursday evening, of the 32 infected, five are Indian nationals detained in Shreepur Ward Police Office for unauthorisedly entering Nepal, said Dr. Udaya Narayan Singh, coordinator of the hospital.

Of the newly identified COVID-19 patients, five are Indian nationals detained in Shreepur, one each from Chipaharmai Rural Municipality-3, Bahudaramai Municipality-5, two from Pakaha Mainpur Rural Municipality-3 and 23 are from Birgunj Metropolitan City, said coordinator Dr. Singh.

Preparations are underway to send the patients to the Gandak Temporary COVID-19 Hospital, said Dr. Singh.

Meanwhile, the Shreepur Ward Police Office has been sealed after five detainess tested positive for the virus, said Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Manojit Kunwar, spokesperson of Parsa District Police Office.

The five Indians had illegally entered Nepal on Friday, said Police Inspector Dipak Shah of Shreepur Ward Police Office.

Jayamod Thakur, Inspector of Parsa District Health Office, said, “The cases of the virus infection has been increasing daily. The infection is also seen in those without any travel history. Thus, the virus has entered the community.”

Due to lack of coordination between various stakeholders of Parsa including those involved in contract tracing, shifting of COVID-19 patients and swab collection, the expansion of COVID-19 testing has been delayed, said Thakur.

Coordinator Dr. Singh said that five COVID-19 patients were receiving treatment in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the temporary hospital.

Currently, there are 45 COVID-19 patients in the COVID-19 hospital. With 32 new patients, the number will now increase to 77.