The current medical infrastructure and human resources across all Covid-19 specific hospitals in the province are not enough to provide effective treatment, say health officials.

Over 10,000 Nepalis have already crossed the border at Gauriphanta to reach India since mid-August.

The province’s four labs have the capacity to test over 4,000 swab samples a day. But only 1,000 samples are being collected.

The number of infections in the city has increased since May 21, as more returnees from India came back to the city from the Gauriphanta border point.

More than 550 families displaced by flood in July have moved to a community forest area from the Postal Highway.

The ban has led to a shortage of timber in Sudurpaschim Province while consumers are forced to pay exorbitant prices.

The disaster has added to the distress of Bhajani residents who were already reeling under the devastation caused by July’s floodings.

Almost a week into the disaster, more than 200 families from Bhajani have pitched tents along the Postal Highway awaiting relief and safe return to their homes.

Floods triggered by incessant rains have entered various settlements, prompting authorities to relocate affected families to safer places.

According to Sudurpaschim Health Directorate, sub-regional hospitals, district hospitals and primary health centres in Sudurpaschim Province have a combined capacity of 180 isolation beds.

An overwhelming number of returnees, poor testing rate, and unmanaged quarantine facilities may cause a rampant community spread of the coronavirus, experts warn.

A significant majority of Sudurpaschim natives returned to the province in the wake of the global coronavirus pandemic. This has led to a sudden increase in demand for food in the province

The Sub Metropolitan city had purchased food grains worth Rs 26.1 million to distribute to the impoverished households during the coronavirus pandemic.

While the farmers are compelled to throw away their vegetables due to lack of buyers given the lockdown, consumers are compelled to buy vegetables from middlemen at exorbitant prices.

With the possibility of empty granaries looming large, some farmers in the district have started working in the fields despite the nationwide lockdown.