By Deepak Prasad Gautam, Birgunj, July 28: As many as 15 persons including two health workers have tested positive for COVID-19 in Parsa.

In Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test conducted at Narayani Hospital's laboratory, 15 persons were found to have been infected with the virus, said Dr. Niraj Singh of Narayani Hospital.

The newly infected patients belong to age group from 23 to 56 years. Of the infected, 14 are males and one is female.

"Two health workers have tested positive for the virus. Also, the virus infection was detected in 13 persons who had come to the hospital voluntarily for PCR test and those upon whom the test was performed during contact tracing," said Dr. Niraj.

Majority of the newly infected patients are from Birgunj, having the symptoms of the virus infection.

A 26-year old doctor of Shripur, Birgunj Metropolitan City (BMC)-11 and a 40-year old doctor of Birta, BMC-4, working in Narayani Hospital were found with the virus infection.

The virus infection was detected in the 26-year old doctor during contact tracing held after his father tested positive for the virus while the 40-year old doctor had been suffering from fever since the last five days.

Likewise, a 31-year old official of Naryani Hospital has also tested positive for the virus.

Moreover, a 45-year old female of BMC-11, 55 and 33-year old old male of BMC-7, 34 and 25-year old male of BMC-13 were also identified with the virus infection.

Three males aged 48, 56 and 26 of Jagadamba Enterprises, a 23-year old male detained in detention center of Parsa District Police Office, 23-year old male of Birgunj-23, who had returned from Banglore and a 46-year old male placed in quarantine in Saraswoti Secondary School have also contracted to the virus.

The virus infection was confirmed in a 41-year old male of Kalaiya Sub-metropolitan city-5 as well.

Currently, 57 COVID-19 patients including 10 females are receiving treatment in isolation in Gandak Temporary COVID-19 Hospital, Dr. Singh informed. Due to lack of additional isolation beds, 42 COVID-19 patients of Parsa have not been admitted to the temporary hospital.

With confirmation of 15 new cases, management of COVID-19 patients in isolation has become more challenging.

Most of the infected persons have been kept in quarantine centers while few are placed in home isolation.