Nepal Ahead of South Asian Countries in COVID-19 Testing: MoHP

While there are growing speculations that the country lacks adequate healthcare facilities to combat COVID-19, Nepal seems to be quite better than other South Asian countries.

Nepal has outpaced the other South Asian countries in terms of the scope of COVID-19 testing.

“Nepal is ahead in the COVID-19 testing than other South Asian countries,” said Dr. Jageshwor Gautam, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP).

According to the MoHP records, Nepal has conducted testing of 9,156 people per 1 million, the highest in South Asia.

So far, Nepal has tested 266,457 people through the PCR method with 4,696 in the past 24 hours.

Moreover, Nepal stands second in the number of COVID-19 deaths per 1 million population.

COVID-19 in South Asian Countries

However, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the Nepali Government to increase the number of PCR tests to prevent and control the spread of coronavirus.

“If the virus spreads in the densely populated settlements of Kathmandu valley, the situation can go out of control. So, the government is requested to identify highly vulnerable areas. Increase PCR testing and protect the people’s right to health,” stated NHRC.

The NHRC further exclaimed that the government has failed to intensify COVID-19 testing despite its timely information about the possibility of coronavirus spread in densely populated cities such as Kathmandu.

The NHRC has made a similar appeal, earlier on March 24, to the Nepali Government to intensify testing for effective tracking of coronavirus spread.

Nepal has recorded 255 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the country’s count to 16,423.

Meanwhile, 253 patients were discharged from various hospitals on Wednesday, taking the total recoveries to 7,752.

Currently, 25,040 people are in quarantine and 8,636 are in isolation wards.

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