By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Mar. 23: Addressing the nation on Friday, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli announced a halt of all non-essential services from March 22 to April 3 and called for a nationwide partial lockdown.
Alongside non-essential services, the government also imposed restrictions on long-route travel and a temporary ban on all international arrivals. All the measures were taken to prevent the country from the global pandemic COVID-19, also known as coronavirus.
The virus has led to more than 13,000 deaths with more than 300,000 confirmed cases across the globe as per the data of John Hopkins University.
With only one confirmed case in Nepal till date while numbers rise in other countries, the local governments across the country are preparing themselves to fight against the virus and assist the country as a whole.
All the seven local governments of Chitwan district are undergoing their preliminary preparation against COVID-19. Also the district headquarters, Bharatpur Metropolitan City begun the preparedness by forming a 50-bed hospital dedicated to the virus.
“All the health service providers inside the metropolis have a separate desk to look after patients showing any symptom of the virus. The ones who are suspected with the symptoms will be referred to the new hospital dedicated to the virus,” said Renu Dahal, mayor of the metropolis, according to Our Chitwan Correspondent Shaligram Nepal.
The metropolis also said to add Intensive Care Units (ICU) in the newly-built hospital by Monday.
As per Ratnanagar Municipality, they have established 20-bed isolation camp at Gunjaman Hospital and a three-bed isolation at Ratnanagar Hospital. Citing less patients flow in Bhandara Hospital, Rapti Municipality is establishing three-bed isolation ward there.
The Jutpani Primary Health Centre is said to be used for isolation purpose by the Kalika Municipality.
Madi Municipality, on the other hand, has intensified their role in the border areas. “The border areas inside the municipality linked with India have been closed. If a Nepali citizen wants to return through the border, s/he is first taken to a separate room in a local school and kept under inspection,” said Thakur Dhakal, mayor of Madi Municipality.
Similarly, Khairahani Municipality and Ichchhakamana Gaunpalika of Chitwan are also showing their effectiveness through generating awareness among the public regarding the precaution measures against the virus. On the other hand, the District Administration of Dolakha has kept the district in high alert and has established nearly two dozen isolation beds in multiple hospitals, including Charikot Hospital and Dolakha Community Hospital.According to our Jiri Correspondent Kailash Lama, with only eight beds allocated for isolation in Charikot Hospital, the hospital has said it is all set to increase the number of beds in coordination with Bhimeshwor Municipality.
Like in Dolakha, the Public Health Office of Saptari has kept a total of 56 isolation beds ready in various hospitals across the district.
Gajendra Narayan Singh Hospital has six, Chinnamasta Hospital has 20, Unique Hospital has 20 and Police Hospital has 10 beds in their isolation ward, according to Our Rajbiraj Correspondent Dhirendra Sah.
The building of Sai Krishna Medical College, which has remained closed for long, in Rajbiraj is also said to be transformed into a 50-bed quarantine. “The suspected patients of COVID-19 will be kept under surveillance in the quarantine constructed in Sai Krishna Medical College. The samples are sent to

Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital,” said Dr Chuman Lal Das, medical superintendent of Gajendra Narayan Singh Hospital.
Saptari district has also closed seven out of eight border entry points with India. On the other hand, Health Directorate of State 2 has said that it has established 37 health desks in different border points within its periphery. “The State government is also doing homework to upgrade the State Public Health Laboratory and make it capable of researching and testing virus such as COVID-19,” said Dr Nawal Jha, deputy secretary of State 2 Social Development Ministry, according to Our Janakpur Correspondent Dharbendra Jha.
According to Jitpur Simara Sub-metropolitan City of Bara District, they are transforming a closed garment industry in Ward 2 into an isolation camp within 72 hours.
In a bid to remain prepared for the global pandemic, local governments in State 1 have also established quarantines to use it in need.
The Disaster Management Committee of Dhankuta has established 60-bed quarantine in the under-construction Dhankuta Industrial Estate.
“The estate has been declared quarantine zone. There is a total of 60-bed capacity in 10 different buildings inside the zone,” said Keshav Prasad Bimali, chief district officer of Dhankuta, according to our correspondent Kokila Bhandari.
Meanwhile, Devchuli Municipality of Nawalpur District has established a fund of Rs. 10 million to fight against the virus.
“Along with providing Rs. 10 million fund, we are utilising all the schools in all 17 wards of the municipality as quarantine,” said Bishnu Prasad Bhusal, chief administrative officer of Devchuli Municipality.
However, all the local governments said they were facing a shortage of masks, thermal guns and various personal protective equipment.
“There are shortage of various equipment. However, we are preparing ourselves with the equipment we have for now,” said Deputy Secretary Jha.
While the government is performing its responsibility to protect the citizens, the government has requested the public to follow its requests and save oneself from the pandemic.