9 new COVID-19 cases reported in Nepalgunj

Kathmandu - The District Health Office, Banke on Sunday confirmed 9 new cases of COVID-19 in the district. Office’s Public Health Officer and Corona Focal Person, Nareshman Shrestha, shared that the result of the real time PCR tests conducted on 30 suspected individuals showed that nine persons including five women tested positive for the coronavirus. With this, the total number of COVID-19 in the district stands at 10.

Earlier on Friday, a 60-year-old local man was detected with COVID-19. While further tests on the suspected ones were being conducted, the preparations were also afoot to send the infected ones to the isolation for treatment. Likewise, the nasal and throat swabs collection of the persons coming in contact with the infected ones, especially at Julahanpurwa site at Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City-8, were also carried out.

Ramadan celebration likely to be affected With the new 10 total cases of COVID-19 confirmed in the district, the celebration of holy festival of the Muslim community-Ramadan- has been affected. Mohammad Harun Halawai, a local Muslim leader, shared that Muslim community here has been fear-stricken following the report of the COVID-19 cases in their locality. Muslims here were asked to stay indoors and recite namaz in view of the prevention of COVID-19.

Locals were already panicked when a Muslim leader, who was reciting namaz at home, was found to have contacted the flue-like infection, according to Halawai. “Amid this new COVID-19 cases and increasing fear among the locals, there’s no denying to the fact the Ramadan celebration is likely to be affected,” Halawai viewed.