By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 11: The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) Friday clarified that salary of the employers, doctors, nurses and health workers working under the ministry has not been deducted to the COVID-19 fund set up by the government.
The ministry has not directed for the deduction of the health workers’ salaries, said spokesperson at MoHP Dr Bikash Devkota.
Dr Devkota asked all the health workers to work with assurance and confidence.
Health workers are working in the frontline to control the possible spread of COVID -19 across the nation.
Addressing the media briefing on Friday, Dr Devkota said that one could voluntarily contribute to the fund established for treatment, containment and prevention of coronavirus.
A Cabinet meeting held on March 24 had decided to deduct a certain amount from the salaries of government staffers to contribute to the COVID-19 fund set up by the government.
630 samples tested within 24 hours
Dr Devkota informed that 630 specimens of coronavirus suspects have been tested within 24 hours across the nation on Friday.
“We have conducted 630 sample tests, and all of them are negative for COVID-19,” said Dr Devkota.
Devkota informed that more than 800 sample tests were being carried out today and the results would come out by Friday evening.
Among them, 401 samples were tested at the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) in Kathmandu while 229 samples were tested in various labs outside the valley.
The government has conducted 3594 sample tests for the COVID-19 till date and nine were found infected for the virus. The first infected person has recovered and is living a normal life, while the remaining eight infected persons are receiving COVID-19 treatment in designated hospitals.
The coronavirus suspects have reached 184 as identified through the ministry’s website and mobile apps. Dr Devkota informed that 8,660 foreign returnees were in quarantine across the country on Friday.