By Shaligram Nepal, Chitwan, Mar. 19: A 50-bed special hospital for the treatment of the people infected with the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 has been almost completed here at Bharatpur.

Named as the Corona Special Hospital and built at Bharatpur Expo Center, the hospital is all set to provide OPD services starting from tomorrow, Friday, according to Renu Dahal, Mayor of Bharatpur Metropolitan City.

The hospital will be upgraded into a 70-bed hospital as planned in a few days by when there will also be arrangmenet of isolation ward in addition to ICU services, said Mayor Dahal.

Dr. Bhoj Raj Adhikari,spokesperson for the taskforce formed to plan and execute construction of makeshift hospital following an all-party meeting, said that a 300-bed hospital could be made by using all three buildings of the expo centers. "In the first phase, we are building 70-bed hospital and its capacity will be increased as per necessity.

Mayor Dahal said that medical team for the hospital has already been arranged and that a team of 14 health professionals will start working in the hospital from Friday.

The hospital has been built following a decision of the Bharatpur Metropolitan City to make a special hospital for COVID-19 infections, which was also endorsed by an all-stakeholders meeting held Wednesday. The Nepali Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police personnel have been deployed for the construction of the hospital.

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