The last three days have seen a significant uptick in the number of Covid-19 cases in Kanchanpur, according to the District Health Office.

Out of 787 antigen tests conducted on Thursday, 39 samples came back positive for the virus, the data of the office showed.

Twenty-eight of the positive samples were among the ones collected from Gaddachauki border point; 10 positive cases were reported from Mahakali Provincial Hospital at Mahendranagar and one positive case was detected in Punarbas Municipality.

On Wednesday, the number of positive cases stood at 52 in the district. Out of the total positive cases, 45 were among those entering Nepal from the Gaddachauki checkpoint. Similarly, PCR tests conducted at Mahakali Hospital had confirmed seven positive cases on Wednesday.

Forty-one people tested positive on antigen tests at Gauriphanta border point in Kailali on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the number of positive cases in the district was logged in at 15—eight among those entering Nepal through Gaddachauki checkpoint; six in Bhimdatta Municipality and one in Krishnapur Municipality.

According to the health office, 41 people entering Nepal through the Gauriphanta checkpoint in Kailali on Wednesday have tested positive.

“There has been a sudden rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in the district. Positive cases among those entering Nepal from India through various border points have increased. It is time for everyone to be vigilant and strictly follow the safety protocols,” said Shivraj Sunar, chief of the District Health Office, Kanchanpur.

According to Dr Govinda Rokaya, the Covid-19 focal person at Mahakali Provincial Hospital, 60 new Covid-19 patients have been admitted to the hospital in the last three days.

“Those who tested positive at the border points are being kept in isolation and under observation,” Rokaya told the Post. “Four Covid-19 patients had tested positive on Monday; seven more were admitted on Tuesday and by Thursday, the number of Covid-19 patients at the hospital had jumped to 60.”

“We don’t have critical cases as of now. All the infected individuals are showing symptoms of cold and cough and are not in need of critical care,” said Rokaya.

According to him, the hospital has a 50-bed capacity and it has added 10 more beds to accommodate the growing number of coronavirus patients.

“A large number of people make their way into Nepal on the Nepal-India friendly bus service through Gaddachauki checkpoint. Ten people on board a bus coming from Delhi on Wednesday have tested positive,” said Dhan Singh, a health worker deployed at Gaddachauki health desk. “Among the people admitted at Mahakali Provincial Hospital on Wednesday, 35 were pilgrims returning from Haridwar in India.”

Monitoring and screening at the border points have been tightened and Mahakali Provincial Hospital has deployed ambulances to take those who test positive at the Gaddachauki border point to the hospital, according to Rokaya.

As of Thursday, the number of active cases in Kanchanpur was 110.