Fifty seven individuals are currently at various quarantine facilities in the four local units across Kalikot. All of the individuals who are currently quarantined are those who recently returned from India. Kalikot District Hospital has set up a four bed-strong isolation ward to host those who show symptoms of the novel coronavirus disease.

According to DSP Shyambabau Oliya of Kalikot Police, a total of 237 people have recently returned from India. “But not all of them have agreed to stay in quarantine facilities,” he said.

But Palata Rural Municipality’s disaster management committee has urged the people to self-isolate themselves in their homes and report to the health post if they show any symptoms of Covid-19. The rural municipality has said it would bear the cost of food to those who remain in self-isolation, even though it has set up a 160 bed-strong quarantine facility with a budget of Rs6 million.

The district administration has said the district has readied 619 beds in quarantine altogether to combat the contingent spread of the virus. DSP Oliya said that the locals have so far complied with the lockdown and there’s no shortage of food in the markets.

The local units have also distributed masks and soaps. Palata Rural Municipality said it has a stock of 20,000 masks that will be distributed to the locals; it will provide daily allowances to health workers, security personnel and labourers, the local unit said.