State 2 govt prepares to cope up coronavirus

Kathmandu: State 2 has intensified the preparation to stay away from the coronavirus. The Health Directorate of State 2 is making efforts to set up 115 isolation beds at different hospitals and medical colleges.

Deputy director at Health Directorate, Bijay Kumar Jha, informed that the State hospital at Janakpur will have three isolation beds while five in Narayani sub-regional hospital, 60 in Janaki Medical College and Teaching Hospital, and 50 in National Medical College.

Jha made it clear that State 2 had not recorded anyone contracting coronavirus so far. Similarly, special alertness has been maintained at the border area to avoid coronavirus entry.

Health desks have already been operative at different municipalities. Chief District Officer, Pradip Raj Kandel, has informed that two youths coming to Nepal from India were suspected of coronavirus at a health desk set up at Jaynagar of India, bordering Dhanusha district. They were however tested negative at a hospital in Madhubani, India.

As the COVID-19 infection was growing in India, special alertness was maintained at the border, he added. As part of the preparedness, the government schools are also asked to stay closed within a few days.

The lethal epidemic Coronavirus known as COVID-19 which spread from mainland China has already claimed the lives of over 5000 people globally with maximum deaths in China only and around 134,800 people (in more than 120 countries) being infected around the world.

COVID-19 has insidiously affected tourism worldwide, including Nepal. Nepal continues to scramble for preventive measures with limited resources. According to Nepali authorities, six patients suspected of Coronavirus are in isolation wards in hospitals.