Several local units across the country have started imposing and extending prohibitory orders as they report a spike in Covid-19 cases.

The District Administration Office in Chitwan has imposed prohibitory orders in six out of seven local units in the district. The administration on Sunday decided to impose prohibitory order in Ratnanagar, Khairahani, Rapti and Kalika municipalities and Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality effective from Sunday midnight. A prohibitory order was imposed in Bharatpur Metropolitan City, the district headquarters, from Friday.

"The prohibitory order will be effective till Friday midnight," said Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, the chief district officer of Chitwan. According to him, people can buy food and other essentials from 5 to 8 in the morning and evening but they are not allowed to come out of the house at other times.

“Only vehicles carrying goods, vegetables, fruits and milk; ambulances and fire engines are allowed to move on the roads,” he said.

A total of 219 positive cases have been reported in Chitwan by Sunday. According to Liladhar Paudel, the information officer at Bharatpur Hospital, 83 positive cases were reported in the district in the past 10 days. Six health workers, including three doctors, in Bharatpur Hospital tested positive for the virus on Sunday.

In Gorkha, the District Administration Office has decided to enforce a prohibitory order in the district for a week starting from Monday. Private and passenger vehicles have been banned from the street while all services, except emergency ones, will be closed in government offices.

“Security personnel from the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force will be mobilised for the effective implementation of the prohibitory order,” said Chief District Office Tirtha Raj Bhattarai.

Likewise, the District Administration Office in Sunsari has extended the prohibitory order imposed across the district for a week from Monday. Chief District Officer Phadindramani Pokharel said the prohibitory order was imposed, as an increasing number of Covid-19 cases were reported in the district as well as in the neighbouring districts of Jhapa, Morang, Udayapur and Saptari and the Indian state of Bihar.

In Makwanpur, the district administration has decided to extend its prohibitory order in Hetauda Sub-metropolis and Manahari Rural Municipality until August 25. These local units had enforced a week-long prohibitory order from August 10.

Similarly, the District Administration Office in Surkhet has decided to impose a prohibitory order in Birendranagar, the headquarters of Karnali Province, from Monday. Chief District Officer Hiralal Regmi said the prohibitory order was imposed keeping in view the upcoming Teej festival and the increasing number of coronavirus cases in the city. The order will be effective until Friday.

(With inputs from local correspondents of Gorkha, Makwanpur, Sunsari and Surkhet)