By Siraj Khan/ Govinda Sharma, Nepalgunj, May 18: Banke, of late has become the COVID-19 hotspot of Nepal. As many as 47 persons of Narainapur-5 in Banke district have tested positive for COVID-19, a day after the death of a 25-year old quarantined youth.  

47 persons including a female of Banke east, which is also the Indo-Nepal border area, tested positive for the virus on May 18.

With this, the COVID-19 tally in Narainapur itself has reached 56 and that of Banke district has reached 81, informed District Health Office, Banke.

Prior to this, COVID-19 infection was detected in eight persons in Narainapur on Friday.

263 swab samples of those who had come in contact with the eight COVID-19 patients were collected for PCR test at Bheri Hospital.

Only 192 samples were tested until Monday, out of which 47 tested positive for the virus.  

Dr Prakash Thapa, head of Bheri Hospital, said that PCR report of remaining 71 samples is yet to come.

Also, contact tracing and PCR test of those who had come in contact with the deceased youth is being done in a full swing.

Majority of the COVID-19 infected persons had entered Nepal from Mumbai, India, said Naresh Shrestha, focal person of District Health Office, Banke.
The local administration has declared Banke District as hotspot of COVID-19 and has completely sealed it.

Hari Pyakurel, assistant Chief District Officer of Banke said that the Narainapur area was completely sealed off from all directions.

Nepal Police Force, Armed Police Force and Nepali Army, in numbers have been deployed in the area with high alertness, he informed.

Pyakurel said that discussions regarding sealing the entire district and management of COVID-19 patients were being held.

Following massive increase in COVID-19 tally, Narainapur Rural Municipality has been in fearful situation, said Istiyak Ahmed Sah, chair of the Rural Municipality.

Eight persons who were diagnosed with COVID-19 were sent to Corona Special Hospital in Beljhundi, Dang.