(Sharad Sharma)

The government has designated 25 hospitals across the country (six in the Kathmandu Valley and 19 outside) as ‘hub hospitals’ to fight COVID-19. The government would also coordinate 78 hospitals in the Valley to manage treatment to the infected people, said Dr Khem Karki, health advisor of Minister for Health and Population Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal at a regular press conference organised at the Ministry of Health and Population.

The designated ‘hub hospitals’ in the Valley are Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Patan Academy of Health Sciences (PAHS), Bir Hospital, Bhaktapur Hospital, Nepal Army Institute of Health Sciences, and Civil Hospital.

"Hub hospitals will work in coordination with other hospitals. Necessary medical equipments will be supplied to all these hospitals," he said, adding that Shukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital (STIDH), Teku, PAHS and Balumbu-based hospital of Armed Police Force are equipped to provide treatment and test swabs of infected people.

Three Nepalis who returned home from foreign countries have been tested positive for the virus. "Those who came Nepal along with them have come in contact. But they all have been tested negative for the infection," he said. Health of 13 suspected people who are in isolation so far is normal, said the Ministry’s Spokesperson Dr Bikash Devkota. Of them, four are in isolation at STIDH, four at PAHS and three at Kanti Children’s Hospital.

BPKIHS begins testing swab

So far 6,200 people have voiced their concerns about the virus through the toll free number set up by the Ministry, he said, adding that Dharan-based B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences started testing swabs of the infected people from today and hospitals in Nepalgunj and Pokhara would follow suit soon.

Necessary medical equipment would be brought from abroad soon, he said.

Arrangements have been made for health workers to stay at respective quarantine areas, said Dr Karki.