Itahari quarantines 55 people from three countries, locals demand 100-bed hospital

Kathmandu - The only quarantine centre in Itahari Sub-Metropolitan City has housed 55 people from three different countries. People returned from outside Nepal are quarantined on the premises of Janata Multiple Campus of Ithari-5. ''We have quarantined Nepalese, Indian and Pakistani citizens,'' informed Laxmi Gautam deputy mayor of Itahari, adding, ''There are seven Pakistani, 12 Nepali and 36 Indian nationals.

Among them, two are women and one is a minor.'' Gautam said Indians were arrived for working purposes while Pakistanis had arrived for Islamic program in different mosques of Itahari. Itahari Sub Metropolis had established 100-bed quarantine on 24 March, the day Nepal started countrywide lockdown. Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT), to determine whether people are COVID-19 infected or not, was started since April 14 in Itahari. ''So far we have tested 48 quarantined people and fortunately all results are negative'', shared Ram Charan Chaudhary, the heath section chief at the sub metropolis. He added, ''We will complete testing remaining 7 today.'' Chaudhary said Itahari had already carried out RDT to all 110 migrant workers returned from abroad result of which was also negative.