By Bishnu Prasad Pokhrel, Damak, May 29: With the soaring number of COVID-19 positive cases, Kachankawal Rural Municipality, Jhapa, has been named as the most affected local zone in of State 1.

All the COVID-19 infected are returnees from different parts of India.

Currently, more than 400 people are placed in quarantine set up at  Laxmi Prasad Devkota Secondary School, Janakai Primary School, Mahendra Ratna Secondary School, Buddha Primary School and Kechana Secondary School of the municipality.

25 per cent of people in quarantine have tested positive for the virus, said a health worker of Kachankawal Rural Municipality.

After confirmation of 27 positive cases of virus infection on Friday that increased the tally of Kachankawal to 100, the local representatives have been raising question on the management of quarantines.

Due to the poor management of quarantine and insufficient RT-PCR swab testing, the virus has been spreading like wildfire in the quarantine itself, the local representatives said.

Basanta Miya, Member of the State Assembly, said, "The insufficient swab testing, lack of medical consultants and ill- management of quarantine is increasing the spread of virus in State 1."

Miya said that the State government had decided to spend Rs. 1.5 million for prevention and control of the virus.

More than 100 people in quarantine are yet to be tested, he added.

All returnees are directly placed in quarantine. Thus, the virus has not spread to local communities, said Anjar Aalam, Chairperson of Kachankawal Rural Municipality.

Likewise, Somnath Portel, Coordinator of District Level COVID-19 Prevention and Co-ordination Committee, said that social distancing and effective management of quarantine set-up was prompted in the region. 

According to the latest update of Health Ministry, number of COVID-19 patients in Jhapa has reached 107.