Dolpa decides to shut schools as the district reports first COVID-19 case of second wave

Published On: April 29, 2021 02:45 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

DOLPA, April 29: The district administration in Dolpa has decided to shut schools after a worker of the Jufal Airport tested positive for the coronavirus. The District Administration Office (DAO) has decided to shut down schools in the region as a precautionary measure to stop the further spread of the contagious disease.

According to Chief District Officer Madhav Prasad Dhakal, a meeting of the District COVID-19 Crisis Management Center decided to postpone all annual school examinations scheduled by the local governments. In addition, the schools have been asked to continue the classes through alternative mediums instead of the physical presence of teachers and students. But conducting classes through alternative mediums of education seems unlikely as not all schools of the Himalayan region have access to the internet and the schools which do have them have a very low internet capacity to conduct any kind of virtual education.

Also, the meeting has decided to make it mandatory to wear masks while entering hospitals and government offices in the district. Furthermore, the meeting has asked the local governments to prepare necessary isolation wards with oxygens and quarantine centers in the district. According to CDO Dhakal, decisions have been made by the Nepal army to keep tarpaulin sheets ready in case of an emergency and that the main markets in Dunai, Tripurakot, and Jufal including hotels and shops will be allowed to open only till 6PM apart from food and drug stores.

The hospital management committee of the district hospital has been instructed to repair and keep their two ventilators in working condition as well. The district administration has also decided to conduct a contact tracing and examine all the staff of the Jufal airport who came into contact with the infected worker through antigen tests.

Also, the authorities concerned have said that all the eight local bodies of the district should make necessary preparations for precaution against the coronavirus in order to avoid the spread of the infection as there are not enough well-equipped COVID hospitals and isolation centers in the district.