On August 7, a policeman deployed in Biratnagar tested positive for coronavirus. The same day, he was told by the metropolis’ employees that he would have to stay home, as all the beds in the city’s isolation facility were occupied.

“The person who telephoned me said that I will be taken to an isolation facility after the beds get vacant. But until now, no one from the metropolitan city office has come to take me,” he said.

According to him, two days after receiving the test result, he developed breathing problems and telephoned the metropolitan city office, which in turn asked him to call another number. But nobody answered it, he said.

“I called that number several times but no one received it. The phone was switched off later on,” he said. “Then I purchased some medicine for cold and cough from a medical shop. My condition is better now.”

Likewise, an individual from Biratnagar Metropolis Ward No.5 said he tested positive for coronavirus on August 7 but nobody from the metropolis contacted him until August 11.

“Four days after I got my result, four employees from the metropolis came to my house to take me to an isolation facility. But I refused to go with them, as I wanted to self-isolate in my own house,” he said. “I was told that I’ll have to fill a form for home isolation. But until now, nobody from the metropolis has come to give me the form nor has anyone contacted me asking about my health condition.”

He added that he has been taking medicines as prescribed by some of his doctor friends.

According to the health standard set for the isolation of Covid-19 patients, health workers of the concerned local units should call or text Covid patients at least twice a day to keep record of their health condition. The health standard also states that Covid-19 patients are allowed to stay in home isolation only if their houses meet the required standard. The officials of the metropolis should inspect the houses of Covid patients before allowing them to isolate at home. But none of the local units and Covid patients in Morang are following these rules.

Dr Laxmi Narayan Yadav, spokesperson at Koshi Hospital, said, “The spread of coronavirus will not be contained until the authorities manage and monitor home isolation. It will take no time for the situation to go out of control if the authorities fail to do so.”

Bhim Parajuli, mayor at Biratnagar Metropolis, claimed that a seven-member team of health workers led by Dr Prajwol Khatiwada has been formed to provide health services to Covid patients in home isolation.

“This team is also providing medicines to the patients,” Parajuli said.

The number of Covid-19 cases has been on the rise in Province 1 but the infected individuals have been compelled to stay in home isolation due to lack of beds in hospitals and isolation centers.

When asked about the management of Covid patients in home isolation, Minister of Social Development Jeevan Ghimire said that it’s the responsibility of the local units to keep track of those patients who are isolating at home.

Two-hundred and seventy-five Covid-19 patients are staying in home isolation in Biratnagar Metropolis as of Monday, according to Indramani Pokharel, the chief administrative officer of the metropolis.

According to the data of the Ministry of Social Development in Province 1, 11 individuals have died and 2,232 tested positive for coronavirus in the province as of Tuesday. At present, 505 Covid-19 patients are isolating at home.