Birgunj, April 16
Birgunj city in Province 2, where three Covid-19 patients were found earlier this week, is unlikely to begin testing people for coronavirus in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method before next week.
The province’s Chief Minister Lalbabu Raut had assured beginning the test in Birgunj on Tuesday. However, he failed to keep his words.
A PCR test machine has arrived in the city, but the test cannot begin now due to the lack of other equipment needed, according to health workers here.
“Thanks to the provincial and federal governments, we received the machine,” Dr Madan Upadhyaya, the medical superintendent of Narayani Sub-regional Hospital, says, “But other tools and equipment required for its operation have not been managed yet. We are working on that.”
“The tools and equipment are not easily available in the market. There are a few who import it. Further, they are costly,” he clarifies, “We cannot bring them all immediately. If they are managed, we can begin the test in the next seven days.”
