By Siraj Khan, Nepalgunj, June 29: As many as 71 quarantines and nine isolation centers have been emptied in Banke following decrease in detection of new cases of COVID-19.

According to Banke District Health Office, out of 114 quarantines and 14 isolation centers set up in Banke, only 43 quarantines and five isolation centers are currently in use.

Naresh Shrestha, focal person of the health office said, “598 people are currently placed in 43 quarantines and 33 are receiving treatment in five isolation centers across the district.”

“Few days earlier, more than 7,000 people were staying in quarantine. After completion of quarantine period, they were sent home by conducting COVID-19 tests. The number has now decreased to 598,” said Shrestha.

Also, out of 352 COVID-19 patients of the district, 317 have returned home after recovering from the virus infection. Only 33 are receiving treatment in isolation, he added.

Two people of the district had succumbed to COVID-19.

Out of two quarantines set up in Nepalgunj, one is completely empty while 66 people are residing in the other.

Likewise, out of 16 quarantines of Kohalpur, 222 are residing in 13 quarantines and three have been vacant.

Out if 22 quarantines of Khajura, only 12 are in use, hosting 35 people. All eight quarantines of Janaki Rural Municipality are empty.

In Baijnath Rural Municipality, 11 out of 22 quarantines are in use, hosting 130 people.

In Narainapur,  which was once known as ‘COVID-19 hotspot’ of Nepal, 14 out of 17 quarantines have been emptied, and there are 31 people residing in three quarantines. Similarly, only one quarantine is used in Duduwa with five people.

Two quarantines are in use in Rapti Sonari Rural Municipality with nine people.

Meanwhile, out of 14 isolation centers of the district, only five are in use with 33 COVID-19 patients.