By Govinda Sharma, Banke, Apr. 26: As the hospitals have been overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients in Banke following a rapid increase in the novel coronavirus cases, isolation centres with oxygen facilities have come into operation in the district.

A 10-bed COVID-19 special isolation centre has been set up in a health post at Radhapur, Khajura Rural Municipality-1. The isolation centre was established in Rs. 400,000 paid provided by ward chair Suman Malla.

Likewise, Khajura Rural Municipality has operated a 40-bed isolation centre with an oxygen facility in the building of Janak Education Centre.

Health workers have been deployed in both isolation centres to take care of the COVID-19 patients.

Similarly, Narayan Oli, a member of the Social Development Committee said that a well-facilitated isolation centre was being operated by Kohalpur Municipality in a local nature care home.

As the Bheri Hospital has been overflowed with virus-infected patients, the Nepalgunj Sub-metropolitan City has started preparations to operate a 50-bed isolation centre having all healthcare facility. Ram Bahadur Chand, chief of the health department of the sub-metropolitan city said the isolation centre would come into operation within one or two days.

"With many facilitated isolation centres being operated within the metropolitan city, the flow of patients in Bheri Hospital has been expected to decrease," said Chand. "We have been doing our best to prevent and control the spread of the virus."