By TRN Online, Kathmandu, July 12: Of the 3,000 samples collected in Kathmandu Valley by the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) under the health ministry, only three have tested positive for COVID-19.

The samples were collected to check if the novel Coronavirus has entered the community here in Kathmandu Valley, said Dr Basudev Pandey, director of EDCD, in the daily press briefing today.

As many as 3,000 swab samples were collected for Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests from 12 different places within the valley including Nakhhutole, Koteshwor, Sankhamul, Kapan, Budhanilkantha, Tokha, Dillibazaar, Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA), Bode and Kageshwori Manohara, said Dr Pandey.

Of the 3,000 samples, three were found with the containment of virus. “On the basis of the 3,000 sample tests, the community transmission of the virus in Kathmandu valley stands at 0.18 per cent,” Dr Pandey added.

According to the EDCD, COVID-19 caseload of Kathmandu is 347. “Most of the people who were found with the SARS-CoV-2 infection were those who were either rescued from abroad or who had entered to the valley from other districts and India via ground crossing,” said Dr Pandey.

He added that only a few people without travel history were detected with COVID-19 in the valley.

Dr Pandey also said that the EDCD would intensify COVID-19 testing in Kathmandu valley.

“Until July 9, we will collect 5,000 samples from major service delivery points within Kathmandu valley like hospitals, banks and some government offices,” Dr Pandey said.

Likewise, everyone rescued from abroad and those who enter Nepal from India via ground crossing will be sent home only if they test negative for the virus in PCR test, said Dr Pandey.

He added that around 21,000 samples would be collected from all seven states, three ecological zones and 77 districts to expand the COVID-19 testing.

“As the cases of virus infection have significantly decreased, we will expand the sample testing now,” he added.

Meanwhile, Dr Pandey also requested everyone to adopt all safety protocols to avoid the virus infection.

Currently, the nationwide COVID-19 caseload stands at 16,801 including 8,589 cases of recovery and 38 death cases.