Infection of SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 has been confirmed in as many as 18 armed police force (APF) personnel deployed in the security of Nepal’s eastern border point.
As many as 25 persons including 18 APF personnel were confirmed to have been infected with COVID-19 on Friday.
Jeevan Chamlagain, corona focal person of Jhapa district, said that of the 48 swabs that were collected from APF camp and sent for testing at the provincial laboratory based in Biratnagar, 18 tested positive for the virus.
Nabina Baral, coordinator of Mechinagar social development committee, said that the APF camp was sealed off after infection of the virus was confirmed in 18 APF personnel including a woman.
As many as 345 people have so far been found positive for COVID-19 in Jhapa district. Those confirmed infected on Friday included a male from Birtamod municipality, three males each from Barhadashi and Jhapa Rural Municipality.
Baral expressed apprehension that the virus may have already spread in the community as so many APF personnel deployed in the security of the eastern border point were found with the virus.
Locals in Kakarbhitta and Mechinagar have become worried that virus may have entered community because the security officials working regularly in the border point were found infected with the virus. They have demanded sealing off the bordering area for contact tracing and collecting swabs of those at risk of getting infected.
