Authorities in Nepal have started community bases mass Antigen testing for COVID-19 in the capital, Kathmandu, which remained one of the worst affected places in the Himalayan country. Areas with high population density and vegetable markets will be covered in this drive. 

The mass testing drive is being conducted by the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (ECDC) and Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), reported The Himalayan Times. 

Experts believe the real extent of the spread of the virus is not being shown in official data. 

“Any COVID-19 case confirmed through community-based tests should be considered alarming as even those testing positive would normally be aware of its condition.” Dhan Pradhan Paudyal, the medical technologist of the ECDC, was quoted as saying by the Himalayan Times. 

That's why we are planning to conduct more antigen tests in the coming days, he added. The plan is to conduct over 10,000 tests in a day, including 7000 in the Kathmandu district, he informed. 

Hospitals and overall health infrastructure in the country have come under tremendous pressure. Many hospitals are even struggling to get sufficient oxygen supply. 

The government has been cooperating with the WHO and the World Bank, seeking their assistance in curbing the spread.