By Birat Anupam, Itahari, Mar. 19: The Eastern Divisional Headquarters of Nepal Army has established a 440-bed quarantine centre in State 1. The quarantine centre has been set up as preparedness for a potential COVID-19 outbreak in the state.

Three separate venues of Jhapa, Morang and Udayapur have been selected for quarantine in the State.

According to Itahari-based provincial army headquarters source, a 200-bed quarantine each has been set up in Tandi of Morang district and Belsoth, Katari of Udayapur district. Likewise, 40-bed quarantine has been set up at the agricultural training center of Bhadrapur, Jhapa.

''We have established 440-bed quarantine supporting the decision made by State 1 government'', shared an Army official who asked not to be named, ''If needed, we can increase the 40 bed capacity of Bhadrapur to 200 beds.''

It may be noted that the State 1 government had decided to set up quarantine at Tandi of Morang and SrilankaTapu of Udayapur in its last cabinet meeting of 12 March.

Hikmat Karki, the Minister of Internal Affairs and Law said the state government is working as best as it can to prevent COVID-19 in all possible ways. ''We have initiated works from public awareness to constructing quarantine centre for potential outbreak of this deadly virus'', said Karki, also the spokesperson of the state government.

General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Eastern Divisional Headquarter Major General Ananta Karki urged all to work together to prevent COVID-19 infection. ''We are safe so far. And, we are confident to be so in the days ahead. Nepal Army is ready to bear all costs to win the war with COVID-19'', said GOC Karki.

Having bordered both pandemic-hit countries of China and India, state 1 has not recorded any COVID-19 victim so far.