KATHMANDU, July 27: The local governments of Baglung Municipality-10 and Jaimini Municipality have started to enforce strict rules in the region following an alarming rise in the number of COVID-19 infections after the prohibitory orders in the area were eased to some extent. The local governments of the two municipalities have enforced a full shutdown of Kushmishera bazar and Bhakunde areas for a week citing the risk of the virus infecting more people.
The decision to enforce the lockdown was taken at a meeting by Indra Raj Poudel, mayor of Jaimini Municipality and chairman of the response group on Monday. The meeting has decided to close all businesses and shops in the region except shops selling daily essentials.
China steps up COVID measures near Beijing as local infections...
According to Poudel, non-essential services provided by the municipality have been suspended till August 2. In addition, financial institutions, shops, hotels, restaurants and educational institutions will remain shut as well. Locals have been requested to remain indoors and wear a mask if anyone has to go outside for important work.
The ward office of Baglung-10 has also enforced a lockdown till August 2, following a sharp increase in the number of infections in settlements across the area.
Although the municipality had eased the lockdown to some extent, the risk of COVID-19 infection still exists. As public movement starts to increase, so does the risk from the deadly virus. Despite the low number of infections recorded in the past few weeks, the rate of infection has started to increase again.
According to the health office, there are currently 320 active cases of COVID-19 in the district. Baglung Municipality has the most number of active cases with 174 while Jaimini Municipality has 33 cases at the moment. There are currently no active cases of virus infection in Tamankhola Rural Municipality. So far, the district has recorded 5,813 cases of COVID-19 including 61 deaths.
