Nepal is ahead of several South-Asian countries (percentage of tests to population) in terms of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests for COVID-19, as per the Ministry of Health and Population.
“Among the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) member states, while looking in comparison, Nepal’s PCR testing rate is higher in comparison to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India, in proportion to its population.
Likewise, in terms of death rate per every one million population, Nepal has less than Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, he added.
Nepal’s COVID-19 tally reaches 16,531:
With confirmed 108 new cases in the last 24 hours the national COVID-19 tally reached 16,531 on Thursday.
During tests performed at 25 laboratories across the country, swab samples of 18 persons from Surkhet, 16 from Bajhang, eight from Kailali, seven from Dang, five each from Kathmandu and Lamjung, four each from Achham, Chitwan, Kaski and Siraha came out positive for the virus, said Dr. Gautam.
Similarly, three each from Baglung and Dailekh, two each from Bajura, Banke, Dhanusha, Doti, Gorkha, Kanchanpur, Mugu, Myagdi and Saptari and one each from Darchula, Jhapa, Makwanpur, Nawalparasi (East), Nuwakot, Sarlahi, Sindhupalchok, Sunsari and Tanahun tested positive for COVID-19, added Dr. Gautam.
The ministry said 139 COVID-19 patients recovered in the past 24 hours. “So far, a total of 7,891 individuals have returned home after recovering,” said Gautam.
Dr. Gautam said, “4,588 PCR tests were carried out in the last 24 hours and a total of 271,145 PCR tests have been carried throughout the country so far.”
