By Ajita Rijal

Kathmandu, Apr. 17: At a time when many ailing people in emergency find it hard to reach the hospital due to lockdown, the government has pledged to provide ambulance service for such people.
The government is providing ambulance service with the help of Nepal Red Cross Society and hospitals having capacity of more than 100 beds. Speaking at the regular media briefing on Thursday, Dr Bikash Devkota, spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population, said that one could receive the ambulance service by dialing at 102.
7,240 sample tests conducted
The government has conducted 7,240 sample tests for the COVID-19 through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method and 12,192 tests through the RDT method as of Thursday afternoon.
Dr Devkota informed that 369 samples were tested through PCR method in the last 24 hours and not a single case came positive for the virus. Likewise, 3,263 tests were conducted through RDT method in a day.
Currently, 103 people symptomatic of coronavirus infection have been admitted to isolation wards of various hospitals across the nation. Among them, eight are receiving treatment at isolation wards of Kathmandu-based hospitals.
400 test negative for
virus in Birgunj
The ministry has said that 400 people

residing in a mosque at Chhapkaiya in Birgunj Metropolitan City Ward No 2 and 3 were tested for the coronavirus through Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT). All have tested negative for COVID-19 on Thursday, informed Dr Devkota.
Testing was conducted through the RDT method considering the risk of virus transmission after three cases of COVID-19 were detected on April 12 at Chhapkaiya.
Ward Nos. 2 and 3 of Birgunj Metropolitan City were sealed fully after the COVID-19 cases were detected four days ago.
Lately, the government has widened the scope of RDT for the detection of the virus, as a mitigation measure to stop its spread.