Sudurpaschim Province has four laboratories in operation to test swab samples for Covid-19. However, the province is unable to utilise the labs to their full extent.

Laboratories in Doti District Hospital, Dadeldhura Hospital, Livestock Disease Investigation Laboratory in Dhangadhi and Seti Zonal Hospital have the capacity to test 1,000 swab samples each on a daily basis. But only about 1,000 samples are being collected from the province a day.

“We have the capacity to test more than 4,000 swab samples from four labs in a day. But Sudurpaschim is testing only 1,000 samples a day,” said Dr Gunaraj Awasthi, director at the Provincial Health Directorate.

According to Awasthi, the province has been unable to collect more swab samples, as authorities could not expand the contact tracing of Covid-19 suspects.

“The virus has already reached the community transmission level. Contact tracing is the only thing that can be done to contain the spread of coronavirus,” Awasthi said. “But authorities have not been able to expand contact tracing in affected areas.”

Coronavirus has spread at the community level, as the government failed to take necessary steps to contain the virus, said Dr Laxmiraj Pathak, former director general at the Health Division.

“The government could not effectively work to contain the virus during the nationwide lockdown and when prohibitory orders were in place. Authorities should have expedited contact tracing, sealed areas with a high number of Covid-19 patients and expanded PCR testing,” said Pathak. “But the government did not come up with a concrete plan to contain the virus.”

Authorities, however, say they have been facing difficulties in contact tracing, as people are not forthcoming with the needed information.

“Those individuals who have come in contact with Covid-19 patients should come forward for PCR testing. But instead they are trying to hide from authorities,” said Laxmi Upadhayay, chief at the health section of Dhangadhi Sub Metropolis. “Even those infected with Covid-19 do not wish to come in contact with the local unit. A few days ago, Dhangadhi sub-metropolis had to deploy its employees for a week just to search for two Covid-19 patients.”

Another reason for fewer swab collections these days is due to the decrease in the number of returnees, said Narendra Karki, chief at the Health Division in the Ministry of Social Development in Sudurpaschim Province.

“There are fewer individuals in quarantine facilities these days as the number of returnees from India has significantly declined,” he said.

The data of the Provincial Health Directorate showed that 72,476 swab samples have been collected for PCR testing in Sudurpaschim so far. Until now, Dadeldhura Hospital has collected 15,023 swab samples, the two labs in Dhangadhi have combinedly collected 38,579 swab samples and Doti Hospital has collected 2,372 swab samples, the record showed.

According to the Provincial Health Directorate, PCR machines are also being installed in Mahakali Hospital in Kanchanpur, the District Hospital in Bajhang and at Kamal bazaar in Achham.

“These machines will come into operation within mid-October. Thereafter, we can test up to 7,000 swabs on a daily basis,” said Awasthi.

According to the data of the Ministry of Social Development in Sudurpaschim Province, 6,261 swab samples tested positive for coronavirus in the province as of Saturday.