By TRN Online, Kathmandu, June 1: With the steady rise in the number of people infected with the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, that causes COVID-19, the Ministry of Health and Population is making plans to turn some of the existing quarantine facilities into isolation places.

Dr. Bikash Devkota, spokesperson of the Ministry, revealed this at the daily press briefing today.

"With the rise in the number of infected persons, we may have to categorise them into infected and patient and keep the infected persons in the isolation of the existing quarantine facilities. We are planning to upgrade quarantine facilities that meet set standard into the isolation location," said Dr. Devkota.

A person who has tested positive for the COVID-19 but shows no symptoms will be classified as the infected one or asymptomatic patient whereas a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 and also shows symptoms or symptomatic patient will be understood as the patient.

Only the symptomatic patients will be admitted to the hospital for treatment.

The Health Ministry spokesperson also added asymptomatic patient may as well have to stay in isolation at home in case caseload overwhelms the quarantine and isolation facilities.

Out of 1811 total cases, the country has 1582 active cases as of today. 221 infected persons have recovered while 8 succumbed to the disease.

As of today, 133,975 people are in the quarantine facilities across the country. The number of people in quarantine is increasing with the returning of the Nepali migrant workers from India.

According to the health ministry, 2,310 PCR tests were performed in the last twenty four hours while till the date only 71,903 such tests have been carried out.

Infection of SARS-CoV-2 has spread into 59 out of 77 districts in Nepal as of today