Madhesh Province
Health Ministry confirms two more cases of Covid-19
Two 50-year-old men from Birgunj tested positive for the virus on Sunday.Post Report
The Health ministry on Sunday confirmed two more cases of novel coronavirus in Parsa district, taking Nepal’s Covid-19 tally to 51.
“Samples tested at the National Public Health Laboratory in Kathmandu confirmed Covid-19 in two men, both 50 years of age,” the ministry said in a statement. “Both are Birgunj residents.”
The two men have been kept in an isolation facility in Parsa and their health condition is normal, according to the ministry.
On April 12, three Indian nationals residing in Birgunj had tested positive for Covid-19. They are at the isolation facility in Narayani hospital.
The new cases were reported just a day before the end of the national lockdown imposed since March 24 to contain the spread of the virus.
A Cabinet meeting scheduled today will decide on whether to extend the lockdown and the modality for it.
More than a month into lockdown, there have been calls from some sections to ease the lockdown by assessing the situation in the areas where more Covid-19 cases have been reported.
On Saturday, the Health Ministry had recommended extending lockdown by at least a week or allowing provincial governments to take a decision on their own.
Given the rising number of cases and Indian lockdown until May 3, officials say the government is likely to extend the lockdown at least by a week.
Meanwhile, calls have also grown for expanding polymerase chain reaction tests and expedite contact tracing.
The National Human Rights Commission on Saturday drew the government's attention to the efficacy of rapid diagnostic tests and called for conducting more PCR tests.