By Belina Thapa, Lamjung, May 20: As the country is reeling from a deadly second coronavirus wave, the locals of rural villages are becoming more aware than the people residing in the cities.

Though the city dwellers are considered more educated and aware, the denizens of the rural villages of Lamjung have proved that their awareness level about the pandemic is much higher than the city dwellers.

Some rural villages of the district are not even allowing outsiders to enter their villages. Villagers are maintaining physical distance, making face masks mandatory in all outdoor and indoor public spaces, washing their hands frequently, and using sanitiser to beat the virus infection.

Dev Bahadur Gurung of Kaulepani in Besishahar Municipality-3 has been carefully listening and reading news about the coronavirus. He said people of his village were getting more aware and have been following all health protocols strictly after they realized that the cases of COVID-19 are rising across the country, instead of declining.

He said, "In this situation, we have to be more vigilant instead of panicking. I have followed the best possible measures to avoid contagion. I always wear a mask whenever I go outside, even in my neighborhood. I use the sanitizer frequently and avoid visiting neighbors' houses.”

Laxmi Kumari Shrestha, 68, of the same village used to panic whenever she heard the name of coronavirus. But now she is more aware than getting panicky. Shrestha said she had learned about COVID-19 from radio and television. One should be aware and not panic, she added.

“We panic a lot after hearing the name of COVID. But we barely pay attention to save ourselves from the infection. If we follow health protocols, it is possible to stay safe,” she said. “Don't let your neighbors enter inside your house. Always wear your mask and also tell your neighbours to put on their mask,” she urged.

Sabitri Ale Magar of Naruwal Magargaon in Besisahar Municipality-2 said that one should be vigilant about the coronavirus and wear a mask while going outside of the house. She said that outsiders were not allowed to enter their village.

Villagers are also alert and conscious about the pandemic.“We maintain social distancing even when we are with our neighbors. We follow all the health protocols to save ourselves from the infection,” she added.

Tul Bahadur Gurung of Bhujung of Kwalasonthar Rural Municipality-4 said he uses masks regularly. Even though he lives in the village, he had been following all the preventive measures to protect himself from the virus infection.

“The virus has been spreading even in the villages. We have been following preventive measures to save our village from the pandemic," he said.“We don't go outside unless it is necessary. If we have to go outside, then we follow all the possible measures to save ourselves from the virus infection,” said Gurung.

Ganga Bahadur Ghale of Ghalegaun in Kwalasonthar Municipality-3 said he had to be vigilant to avoid coronavirus infection.“Youths have been mobilized in all the entry points of the village and are carrying out patrolling,” he said, adding that strict measures had been taken as there are high chances of virus transmission from the outsiders.

When the locals of the villages are more conscious about the virus and following health protocols to avoid virus infection, people of the cities and market places were found walking freely without wearing face masks and not following even the basic health measures.