KATHMANDU, July 1: As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to increase across the country, the Ministry of Health and Population has requested citizens to take safety measures and precautions, stating that the risk of infection is not over yet. 

As stated by Dr Krishna Prasad Paoudel, spokesperson for the ministry, although the prohibitory order has been loosened to some extent, the population is still at the risk of getting infected. “Everyone should be cautious even while working as the danger is still out there,” Paoudel said. The infection rate inside the country, which was at 18 to 20 percent over a week ago, had increased to 26.3 by Wednesday.

There are currently more than 500 active cases in 17 districts across the country. As many as 572 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the Kathmandu Valley in the past 24 hours.

Furthermore, the infection rate in Karnali Province is at 36.7 percent, 34 percent in Province 1 and 29.9 percent in Gandaki Province. As stated by Spokesperson Dr Paoudel, the risk is still high inside the country as infection cases in some provinces are still increasing everyday.

According to the Ministry of Health and Population, there are still many active cases of COVID-19 in districts like Kathmandu, Jhapa, Sunsari, Chitwan, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Morang and Kavre, whereas other districts have low numbers of infection. The ministry has requested the citizens to take care of themselves as infection cases may increase again due to the increase in public movement, following the government's decision to ease the prohibitory orders to some extent. 

Roshni Tuitui, the head of nursing department at the Ministry of Health and Population has requested offices, markets, public transports and snack shops to implement strict health standards. According to Tuitui, it is mandatory to keep a distance of two meters while using public vehicles, use of face masks and sanitizers by both the drivers and the passengers. She has also requested the public to cover their mouth while coughing on the bus and to spit in a plastic pouch before dumping it at a proper place. Tuitui has also urged vehicle drivers to sanitize the doors, locks and handle bars of their vehicles.

Similarly, TuiTui has requested people to keep a safe distance of two meters while entering snack shops, not to speak while eating and to exit the shop as soon as possible. As the planting season of crops is also underway, she has also urged farmers to use face masks at all times while working in the fields, maintain safe distance and conduct a COVID test as soon as possible in case of any signs or symptoms among the workers. “Anyone could be positive for COVID-19. We should follow the health guidelines at all times as even a small mistake could lead to big risks in the future. 

 
• Coronavirus
 
• Ministry-of-Health-and_Population
 
• Nepal