COVID-19 risks increasing at community level following removal of lockdown

Kathmandu - COVID-19 risk persists across the country including State 1 despite efforts to prevent and control the infection. The state government intensified tests and contact tracing and treatment of infected people following the infection detection in 13 people at Udayapur district in the state in the first week of the Nepali month of Baisakh, said the Ministry of Social Development.

The number of infected people in the state was 993 and on July 29, a man from Morang district died from the infection, said the Ministry's Spokesperson Dr Suresh Mehata, adding that of the infected, 789 got over the infection. The central government removed the around four-month lockdown on July 22.

However, some local levels have re-imposed lockdown as the infection started entering the community. The Biratnagar Metropolitan City was at work to mobilise mechanism to prevent and control the virus after it entered the community. The metropolis on Thursday sat down with operators of health institutions and nursing homes in the city and set further strategy acting on suggestions from them.

The meeting decided to take maximum cautions and measures to prevent and control the infection, said the metropolis mayor Bhim Parajuli. Four high level committees have been formed in coordination with health workers and operators of health institutions to deal with the virus.

These committees include a home quarantine committee led by Dr Hem Sagar Rimal, a PCR lab establishment committee led by Dr Sushil Tapadiya, a psycho-social counselling committee led by Archana Pokharel and a contact tracing committee led by Dr Surya Parajuli.