JHAPA, Aug 16: Damak Municipality in Jhapa has decided to enforce a week-long lockdown starting midnight Sunday to stop the spread of coronavirus.
A meeting of the Corona Prevention, Control and Coordination committee of the Municipality made a decision to this effect earlier on Sunday.
The lockdown will remain in place until 12 midnight of August 22 in view of the rapid spread of COVID-19 at the community level. Financial institutions, grocery shops and other businesses will have to remain closed during the lockdown.
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However, dairy shops will be allowed to open from 6 am to 8 pm every day. Ordinary people are asked not to walk on the street except in emergencies, according to the Municipality’s spokesperson Geeta Adhikari.
Ambulances are asked to take prior permission from their respective ward offices to provide their services. Only motorbikes are allowed to ply the road during the lockdown.
Damak witnessed seven COVID-19 cases on Saturday, taking the Municipality's coronavirus tally to 20. Earlier, the Damak Chamber of Commerce and Industry had decided to shut all business activities except emergencies starting Sunday midnight.
Local hospitals have already suspended their OPD services after a doctor was tested positive for the virus in Mechinagar.
