DHARAN, Aug 6: As many as 13 new cases of coronavirus have been detected in Dharan Sub-metropolitan City on Thursday morning.
Chief of Dharan Sub-metropolitan City Health Division Umesh Mehta said that six of them are India returnees. They tested positive for coronavirus while staying at a quarantine facility.
"Of them, five Nepalis are working in the Indian Army," Mehta said. He said that fears of coronavirus transmission at the community level have grown in Dharan as families of India returnees are also found to have been infected with coronavirus.
Five persons of the same family have been infected with coronavirus in Ward number 3 of the municipality after a worker at the Priti Valve Industry in Dharan tested positive for the virus. In course of contact tracing, the worker's family members were also found to have been infected with the virus.
India's Maharashtra state warns of full lockdown amid second wa...
A vendor, who used to sell vegetables at a local vegetable market called Bhanu Chowk, has also been infected with the virus. He had gone to India and returned home recently. The vegetable vendor is said to have transmitted coronavirus to several others.
As of today, Dharan has recorded 41 COVID-19 cases.
The sub-metropolis has enforced a week-long lockdown starting Wednesday midnight.
An executive meeting of the sub-metropolis took a decision to this effect on Wednesday morning.
The decision came amid fears of community transmission of coronavirus growing in Dharan. The lockdown will continue until 11 August midnight, according to the local authorities.
Spokesperson for the sub-metropolis, Maniram Rai told Republica that all vehicles except ambulances are barred from plying the road during the lockdown to prevent and control further spread of the virus.
No one is allowed to come out of their houses except those in need of medical attention and those involved in providing essential services. Stringent action will be taken against anyone violating the lockdown.
During this period, all services except highly essential ones dealing with health, drinking water, electricity; ambulances and fire trucks, waste management, fuel, and medicines will remain closed.
Earlier on Tuesday, Itahari Sub-metropolitan city, Inaruwa and Duhabi municipalities also decided to impose lockdown keeping in mind the rising COVID-19 cases.
