The Bharatpur Metropolitan City has gone into a weeklong lockdown following the detection of 23 COVID-19 cases in three days.

The lockdown begins midnight today. An emergency meeting of the disaster management committee chaired by the metropolis Mayor Renu Dahal took a decision in this regard in view of increasing cases, said Mayor Dahal. During the lockdown period, vehicles except for the ones operated for essential services are barred.

Likewise, mobility of people in inner areas will be fully restricted and necessary services like shops selling milk, vegetables and meat will be allowed for only a certain period. “Only necessary areas will operate under special surveillance,” she said. The village report committee has been asked to urge the people to take precaution and stay home, it has been said. The disaster management unit of the metropolis, fire engines, city police and the metropolis staffs will be mobilised to prevent and control the infection, said Mayor Dahal’s press advisor Suresh Chandra Adhikari.

Hospitals, isolation wards and quarantine facilities within the metropolis will be made effective. Treatment for COVID-19 patients will be emphasised. So far since the infection entered Nepal over six months ago, 93 infection cases (70 men and 23 women) were found in the metropolis. One person has died from the infection.

The district administration has started a night security check at various five transits within Chitwan district. Chief District Officer leads the security check with the involvement of chief of security agencies. The security check follows increasing infection cases, said assistant CDO Netra Prasad Sharma.