Damak, Aug 16 : A week-long lockdown against coronavirus is to be implemented in Damak of Jhapa district beginning from tonight.    
    
The Corona prevention, control and coordination committee met today to take a decision to this effect. The committee said the infections at the community level have been increasing. There shall be complete lockdown till 12:00 midnight of August 22.    
     
Dairy shops shall be allowed to be opened from 6:00 am to 8:00 am while banks, financial institutions, street and grocery shops and all other sorts of business shall remain closed during lockdown, said Damak municipality deputy-mayor and spokesperson Geeta Adhikari.    
    
People are not allowed to leave home except for most essential purposes, ambulance should take permission from the respective ward if it is required to carry patient and no vehicles including motorcycles are allowed to operate for a week.    
On Saturday, seven people were tested positive for the virus once, taking the tally of infected to 20. It is found that the infected had contacts with the community and a contract tracing is on the offing, said deputy mayor Adhikari.    
     
Prior to this, the Damak Chamber of Commerce and Industry had decided to shut all sorts of trade/business activities except the most essential ones after 12:00 midnight today.    
    
Business community here has started closing down shops voluntarily bearing in mind the spread of the virus to the community.    
    
Hospitals’ OPD services closed    
Hospitals and clinics here have decided to suspend the OPD services. Some of the infected were found to have visited health facilities earlier.    
    
Patients flow for OPD services is obviously higher and it would create more risk of the infection and hospitals and other health institutions have decided to close the OPD owing to this risk, according to Adhikari.    
    
A medico at Mechinagar of the district was tested positive for the virus few days ago. The travel history of one infected showed the patient had visited the Damak-based private Damak Hospital and Research Center and the peoples’ movement in the hospital has been restricted.    
    
A vegetable supplier diagnosed with contracting the virus was known to have visited a hospital here.