By Purushottam P. Khatri, Kathmandu, Apr. 26: Swab collection and testing rate of COVID-19 by the joint medical team of the Ministry of Health and the Nepali Army is increasing every day as the government has started getting equipped with necessary took kits and testing machines, according the government on Sunday.

"The COVID-19 Crisis Management Centre-Operation (CCMC-Ops) has been conducting 2,000- 3,000 tests (including both RDT and PCR)a in COVID-19 hit areas," joint secretary and spokesperson of CCMC-OPs, Dr. Bikash Devkota, said at a press conference organised at CCMC-Ops, on Sunday.  

Even on Sunday morning, the CCMC-Ops conducted RDT tests of 1,581 people and PCR test of 364 people.

Based upon the coronavirus infected cases and locations, the joint medical team of the Ministry of Health and the NA has been giving priority in test of the collected swabs, Dr Devkota said.  

Particularly in to Udaypur district of State 1, the government has so far tested the swab of 423 people residing in various places of the district including Bhulke, according to Dr Devkota.

This week, the government will collect swab of 337 people of the district.

Out of basic target of collecting swab of 1,520 people in State 2, the team has already gathered swab samples of 1,027 people in 26 places of all eight districts (Bara, Parsa, Mahottari, Dhanusha, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Siraha, and Saptari).

According to Dr Devkota, half of the total COVID-19 infected people as of today hail from Udayapur district.

For the next round, the government is focusing to conduct massive swab collection in State 5. Altogether 12 districts in State 5 could be another hotspot of COVID-19 on the basis of risk at present, he said.

Six groups of joint medical team will reach Nawalparasi (Susta West), Palpa, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, Arghakhanchi, Gulmi, Dang, Pyuthan, Rukum(east), Rolpa, Banke and Bardiya) this week to collect further swab of the people who returned home recently from abroad, he said.

As of Saturday's record, the government had conducted PCR test of a total of 9,666 people across the country and 39,670 RDT tests.

Among the total RDT test, the highest number was held in Sudurpaschim State with 10,204, and the lowest in State 5 with just 2,950 RDT tests, according to the CCMC-Ops.

Also in State 1, the government conducted RDT tests of 4,160 people, 5,044 in State 2, 7,467 in Bagmati State, 4,871 in Gandaki State, and 4,974 in Karnali State as of Saturday.

For increasing the swab collection and test of the people, the government has also imparted donning, doffing, and infection control and patient transfer team (PTT) training to 770 security staff members that include ambulance drivers, helpers and health workers of the Nepali Army and the Armed Police Force (APF). Such training was given to 650 staff members of Nepali Army and 120 of APF.

From March 24 to April 26, the government had imported 91,456 metric tons of foods from India, 26,082 metric tons of cereals, 44,235 metric tons of green vegetables, 11,138 metric tons of fruits, 36,442 metric tons of LPG, 17,496 other kinds of fuels, Rs. 258 million worth of raw materials for making medicines, and readymade medicines worth Rs. 1.13 billion.

As of Saturday, a total of 14,731 people are in quarantine. There are 39,824 quarantine beds made. Of the total 14,731 quarantine people, 87 are in isolations. of the total quarantine people, 1,073 are Indian nationals, and 2,020 Nepalis are also in quarantine in India.

According to the CCMC, for effective implementation of the nationwide lockdown, the government has deployed 82,650 total security forces. Of them, 42,012 are from the Nepal Police, 31,155 of APF, 7,486 of Nepali Army and 1,997 of National Investigation Department.