By Manjima Dhakal

Kathmandu, Mar. 28: Only a small number of patients are visiting the fever clinic established at Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital (STIDH) to identify the symptoms of coronavirus, the hospital said.
The government established the fever clinic a week ago to identify the suspected patients of coronavirus by measuring their body temperature. Though some people visited the clinic for testing body temperature, the hospital tested the fever of only selected ones and kept them in isolation. Now only around five patients are in isolation in Teku hospital, Dr. Sher Bahadur Pun, fever clinic coordinator of the Hospital, said.
Although many patients of fever visited the hospital suspecting to have COVID-19, the hospital recommended them to visit other hospitals because they did not have any other symptoms of the virus, Pun said.
According to Pun, till the date the hospital has tested only the persons who had come from abroad and had fever and those who were in direct contact with those returning from abroad.
“The hospital is not carrying check-up of all patients with an assumption that the virus has not spread in the community level till now,” Pun said.
"Many patients of typhoid and seasonal flu also frequently visit the hospital with a fear of having coronavirus. If the hospital continues to receive such patients, the virus may transfer to them, therefore the clinic recommends them to visit other hospitals," Pun said.
Many people who have recently returned from abroad and don't have fever and other symptoms of the virus also reached the hospital after the community and family exert pressure on them to have health check -up, Dr. Pun informed. He said the government asked everyone who had returned from overseas to stay in isolation. “Therefore, there is no need to visit the hospital without having any symptom of the virus,” he added.
Now, many people have a misconception that everyone who returned from abroad had carried the virus. So, each returnee is pressurised by the community for a check-up even the person is in isolation at his own home, he added.
Dr. Pun also has suggested visiting any hospital only after consulting with doctors from telephone.