COVID-19 testing lab launched in Bhaktapur

The Nepal-Korea Friendship Municipality Hospital in Madhyapur Thimi has officially launched coronavirus tests on Thursday. The testing lab with a polymerase chain reaction machine at the hospital was set up two weeks ago. A molecular laboratory and a histology laboratory have also come into operation at the hospital.

The hospital is first to launch the tests in the district and with this has eliminated dependence on Shukraraj Topical and Infectious Disease Hospital for the same, said Madan Sundar Shrestha, Mayor of Madyapurthimi municipality which has established the hospital.

An ambulance has been kept ready and an intensive care unit along with four ventilators and 16 isolation wards have been set up, said Shrestha, adding that a person suspected of carrying the Coronavirus has been kept at the hospital at present.

"A team of 26 doctors and five consultants have been kept on standby. They have been provided with residential facilities. Ten-bed isolation wards have been readied. The hospital now is ready to provide treatment to infected people," he said.

Setting up of a quarantine facility with capacity of housing 50 people at a building of training centre at Bode has moved ahead, he said. The municipality has also started distributing relief materials to daily wagers affected by lockdown.