By Ajita Rijal

Kathmandu, July 14: The recovery rate of COVID-19 patients in the country has reached 60.7 per cent after 1,705 patients were discharge from various isolation facilities on Monday.
As of today, there are 10,294 recovered patients and 6,613 active cases for COVID-19, according to the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP).
It said 1,705 COVID-19 patients have recovered in the last 24 hours. This is the highest single day recovery in Nepal so far. “The recovery rate stands at 60.7 per cent,” said Dr. Jageshwor Gautam, spokesperson at the MoHP.
Currently, there are 6,613 active cases while 23,470 are in quarantine, said Dr. Gautam.
114 new cases, tally goes up to 16,945
Among the 5,856 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests conducted in the last 24 hours, 144 people were found infected with COVID-19, informed Dr. Gautam.
Of the new COVID-19 cases, nine are from the Kathmandu Valley. Of the newly infected, six persons are from State 1; 41 from State 2; 13 from Bagmati State; eight from Gandaki State and 14 from State 5. Similarly, 46 from Karnali State and 16 from Sudurpaschim State were infected from the virus on Monday.
As of Monday, five districts, including Dhankuta, Bhojpur, Mustang, Manang, and Humla have no active cases of coronavirus infection. Meanwhile, four districts, including Mahottari, Rautahat, Kailali, and Bajura have over 500 active cases of infection.
Lab in Nepalgunj to conduct PCR test
According to our Nepalgunj correspondent, one of the private labs in Nepalgunj got permission from the government to conduct PCR test for COVID-19.
The National Public Health Laboratory Teku has given permission to Bageshwori Diagnostic and Polyclinic Centre to run the lab facility. The lab is being operated meeting all the criteria designated by the government.
Proprietor of the Polyclinic virologist Bimal Budhathoki said that Rs. 10.5 million had been invested to install the PCR machines and the lab test would be conducted from Tuesday.
“We have not got the permission to collect the swab samples till date,” said Budhathoki, adding that the test of the samples provided by the government authorities would be conducted.
He informed that the lab had a capacity of testing 250-300 samples a day. With the increasing demand for PCR test throughout the country, the government decided to provide permission to the private laboratories.
So far, the government has provided permission to four private labs in Kathmandu and one each in Nepalgunj and Butwal to conduct PCR tests.