Danusha, Jan. 10: With COVID-19 infection taking its toll in neighbouring India, its impact has been seen in the districts of Province 2. Till the end of last month, the infection rate is stagnant here, but now its graph is going high.

According to the Province Health Directorate, Dhanusha, in the past two days, 16 samples, out of 99, came positive. Bearing in mind the increased risk of the virus, health and other surveillance along the Nepal-India border has been beefed up. These days, the neighbouring country reports above 100,000 positive cases on a daily basis.

Armed Police Force Province-2 chief Ganesh Thada Magar, the corona test through antigen screening on the arrival has been ensured along with the checkpoint and positive cases are promptly referred to the health posts.

The Jaleshwor Bhithamod of Mahottari, Birgunj of Parsa, Gaur of Rautahat, Madar and Aurahi of Siraha now feature the COVID-19 help desks targeting the people arriving from India. Besides, police are planning to launch the help desk at each local government in support of the respective government and the Chief District Officer.

All eight districts --Bara, Dhanusa, Mahottari, Parsa, Rautahat, Saptari, Sarlahi, and Siraha in the Province share a border with India.

There are customs offices in all but Bara district of Province 2 which shares 464 kilometres open border with India.

The armed Police Force (APF)'s provincial office stated that the security arrangement was weak as several of the local levels in the province have not established coordination with the security bodies.

Doctors have cautioned that most of the border transit points of Province 2, including Janakpurdham, could turn out to be hotspots of COVID-19 in the wake of the increasing risk of the Omicron virus and the daily increase in the number of infection cases.

The highest number of customs checkpoints and the longest border with India is in Province 2. People travel to and fro India via 33 customs offices, 414 kilometres main road, 229 kilometres motorable road and footpaths at 557 spots in the eight districts of the province.

The bodies concerned need to keep a strict watch since there is a high risk of entry of infection from across the border given so high number of cross-movement of people from so many places.

Director of Province 2 Health Directorate, Bijaya Jha said it is the sign of alarm that the number of coronavirus infection cases has been going up since the past few days. As he said, the situation might become more alarming if there is negligence in adopting health safety measures.

Meanwhile, although the COVID-19 cases are increasing, the number of people turning up for vaccination is not found increasing in the province. The government had set the target of vaccinating 66 percent of the population within mid-January but so far only 38 percent of the population in the province has been vaccinated.