By Sher Bahadur Singh, Mahendranagar, Jan 4: With the increasing number of Omicron virus infection cases in India, initiatives have been taken at the Gaddachauki checkpoint to prevent the entry of the Omicron virus. New Delhi is 352 kilometres away from the Gaddachauki checkpoint of Kanchanpur.    

Antigen test of people returning home from India via Gaddachauki checkpoint is being conducted and vaccination against coronavirus has been forwarded. The number of Nepalis returning home after leaving work has been increasing following the increasing cases of Omicron at different cities of India including Delhi, Karnataka and Gujarat.    

Chief of Health Office, Kanchanpur, Shivaraj Sunar, said, "Kanchanpur is at the high risk of Omicron virus infections. We are at high risk as compared to others due to increasing cases of Omicron in Delhi."    

He shared that they have made arrangement for coronavirus test and vaccine for those returning from India at the Gaddachauki checkpoint, adding that test of tuberculosis and malaria is also conducted along with coronavirus test at the checkpoint.    

Coronavirus was detected on four people among India returnees at the checkpoint on Monday and the collected sample has been sent to Kathmandu keeping the infected persons at Mahakali Provincial Hospital, Sunar added.    

He mentioned that they have been coordinating with bodies concerned for the arrangement of health tests in a further effective way at the checkpoint and holding centres. There is a problem with preventing and controlling the virus due to the open border.    

The Health Office said preparations are on to manage tests for the COVID-19 omicron variant within the district. A PCR lab is required to detect the variant.    

Sudurpaschim Province Health Directorate’s COVID-19 focal person Hemraj Joshi said they have planned to intensify the COVID-19 inoculation campaign to curb the possible infection risk from the lately detected variant of COVID-19.    

“The COVID-19 vaccine coverage in the district is 54-60 per cent and we target to hit up to 90 per cent,” he said. The Province has a stock of Vero Cell and Pfizer vaccines. Test to vaccination facility goes on along the border areas. “Our geographical nearness with India demands us to be more attentive to the prevention of the possible entry and spread of the virus.”    

Area Police Office, Gaddachauki reports the detection of five positive cases among the people who returned home from India this morning. It is said until sometimes ago, there were a couple of positive cases in a week, but these days the graph is rising.