A 50-bed health facility for a specific purpose has been established at Bharatpur municipality-10 in Chitwan.

The facility named ‘Bharatpur Corona Special Hospital’ has been set up in 72 hours at Chitwan’s Exhibition Centre amidst a fear of the deadly coronavirous (COVID-19) infection which has already taken a global pandemic turn.

The OPD service and general wards are coming into operation from today itself. The Bharatpur metropolis took an initiation to set up the facility.

According to metropolis mayor Renu Dahal, medical workforce and employees to be deputed in the hospital have been given required orientation and training as per the World Health Organisation’s directions.

They will be provided cent per cent incentive and safety gowns. Only those people suspected of having COVID-19 infection will be admitted to the hospital with the arrangements of food to internet service for health workers and patients.

The 15-member task force headed by Mayor Dahal led the establishment of the hospital.

According to task force Spokesperson Dr Bhojraj Adhikari, they had sought help of two government-run and two private medical colleges for the management of beds for the facility which has the support of private hospitals for pathology and radiology services.

Besides local industry association and the chamber of commerce and industry have been cooperating with the metropolis from their respective sides to operate the hospital.

The metropolis is bearing operating costs of the hospital.

The hospital will manage a 10-bed intensive unit and a 10-bed high dependent unit, said Dr Adhikari. A seven-member management committee has been formed to operate the hospital.

The local administration has directed to shut Manakamana cable car service, cinema halls and local markets in Chitwan district for the time being.

The cable car service would close from tomorrow as the service operator has sought a week’s time in this regard, said Chief District Officer Narayan Prasad Bhattarai.