Lockdown extended in Kapilvastu, Dolakha owing to rising COVID-19 risk

Published On: August 23, 2020 04:15 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KAPILVASTU/ DOLAKHA, Aug 23: The district administration offices (DAOs) in Kapilvastu and Dolakha have extended the ongoing prohibitory orders in the districts owing to the rising risk of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) of late.

The Dolkha DAO, issuing a notice on Sunday, said that the prohibitory order will be further tightened as the district has reported a surge in COVID-19 cases lately.

Dolakha enforced a week-long prohibitory order earlier on August 16. The DAO again decided to extend the order as 10 more cases were confirmed in the district headquarters Charikot and Gaurishankar Rural Municipality in the last five days.

The extended prohibitory order starting Sunday evening will last till midnight on August 26.

Chief District Officer Bhimkant Sharma said that the prohibitory order restricts all services and activities except those listed as essential ones.

Lockdown for fourth week in Kapilvastu amid community outbreak

Meanwhile, DAO Kapilvastu also decided to extend the ongoing lockdown order for the fourth week as a high rate of community transfer has been reported in the district in recent days.

Kapilvastu had enforced the first phase of lockdown on August 6. The ongoing lockdown was scheduled to end on Sunday midnight. With the DAO deciding to extend the prohibitory order, Kapilvastu will have to follow the restrictions until midnight on August 30, according to CDO Dirgha Narayan Poudel.

The district has now 177 active cases out of the total 1,015 infections reported so far. According to the data, Kapilvastu tops Province 5 in the number of COVID-19 cases.

Following the extension of the order, operation of only those services designated as essential will be allowed. Financial institutions can provide their services only between 8 am and 10 am, following the health safety protocol issued by the Ministry of Health and Population. Groceries and those shops selling daily essentials are also to be opened during these hours.

“The administration will enforce stricter measures so as to curb the spread of COVID-19,” said CDO Poudel.

(Reporting by Kiran Man Bajracharya/ Kapilvastu and Ramesh Khatiwada/ Dolakha)