As COVID-19 infections remain unchecked in Nepal, authorities made antigen tests mandatory for all people with COVID-19 like symptoms at all entrances of the capital, Kathmandu. On Monday, the country reported 200 cases for the first time since January. 137 cases alone came from Kathmandu Valley. 

The government has authorized District COVID-19 Crisis Management Centres to take all measures to control the spread.

“As part of their effort to control pandemic they have decided to tighten the flow of suspicious visitors to Kathmandu Valley by initiating antigen tests at the entry points,” Khagaraj Baral, secretary at the COVID-19 Crisis Management Centre, told the Post.

Authorities in Nepal have also increased border control measures, including introducing random antigen tests on people coming from India.

“We have been performing antigen tests even on people returning from India who have Covid-like symptoms. It is impossible to perform tests on all people,” Dr. Samir Kumar Adhikari, the joint spokesperson at the Health Ministry, was quoted as saying by the Kathmandu Post.

Despite these measures, he said the risk of infections remained high from asymptomatic covid-19 patients.

"The important thing is we should follow the safety measures including using face masks, hand washing using sanitizers and others,” Adhikari said.