Kathmandu, Oct. 22 -- On Wednesday, Janardan Adhikari, a health coordinator at Tarakeshwor Municipality, did not receive any call from people infected with the coronavirus or those who had come in close contact with the Covid-19 infected.

With the government deciding not to pay for Covid-19 tests and treatment for the general public, except for those who are poor, single women, disabled, elderly people above 70 years, frontline health workers and security personnel and cleaning staff, people infected with the virus or those who came in close contact with them have stopped contacting health workers for tests or other related information.

"I used to wake up to various calls. At times the number of calls would surpass 400, many of them ask...