By Tilachan Pande, Tamghas, Jan. 20: The Corona test laboratory in Gulmi has remained closed due to financial constraints although the number of people infected with the novel coronavirus has been increasing in the district on a daily basis.

Dr. Uttam Pachya, chief of Gulmi district hospital, informed that the corona test lab has been shut owing to the lack of finance although it was operated in the past with help from local levels.

Dr. Pachya said that it would cost about four million rupees a month to keep the lab operational so that at least a hundred swab samples can be tested a day.

He said unless until either the federal or provincial governments come up with a solution to the financial problems, the lab can't be made operational.

Padam Prasad Pandey, civil society chair of Gulmi, viewed that it was the responsibility of all to protect and utilise the property installed in the district and that the district hospital should not be made to bear the cost of the lab as it had no source of income. "All the local levels in the district, as well as the provincial or federal government, should help the district hospital to run the lab," he said.

37 people were found infected with the novel coronavirus through the antigen test of 60 persons only on Thursday in the district, according to the district public health office, Gulmi.

With this, the number of active cases in the district has reached 148. So far, 97 people have lost to the virus infection since the COVID-19 pandemic started.

The district administration has banned gatherings of more than 25 people and any form of fair and ceremonies that require more than 25 people.