Two schools in Ajaymeru Rural Municipality, Dadeldhura, have discontinued classes from Thursday onwards after a number of students and staff were found infected with Covid-19.

The rural municipality was the first local unit in Dadeldhura to resume classes following the nationwide lockdown. On Wednesday, some teachers, students and employees of Dewal Secondary School and Kholi Basic School in the rural municipality tested positive for Covid-19. Two weeks ago, 12 other individuals, including the vice chairperson of the rural municipality, had also tested positive for the virus.

“Sixteen individuals, including teachers, students, local health workers and security personnel, in the rural municipality tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday,” said Umesh Bhatta, chairperson at Ajaymeru, adding that two schools, a ward office and other offices have been closed.

According to Bhatta, swab samples are being collected from those individuals who were in contact with the infected teachers, employees and students.

“The rural municipality has mobilised a team of health workers in various places for swab collection,” said Bhatta.

According to the local residents, there is a widespread fear of a Covid-19 outbreak in the villages after a health worker at Dewal Health Post tested positive for the virus.

“The last week saw a lot of weddings and increased movement of people. This led to many people getting infected,” said Tarak Khadka, a local resident.

“The virus has spread due to the increased movement of people during the wedding season. We have no options other than closing those schools and institutions that have been exposed to the virus,” said chairperson Bhatta.

In the past, the rural municipality and ward offices had also organised awareness programmes on health safety measures after 12 individuals tested positive for the virus.

A week ago, all schools in Dadeldhura resumed classes after the government handed over the responsibility of opening schools to the local units. Except in Ajaymeru Rural Municipality, classes in other local units of the district have not been affected by Covid-19 spread.

However, Rohit Bhatta, chairman of the Teacher’s Association in Bhageshwar Rural Municipality that borders Ajaymeru, says that schools in other local units are also at risk of an outbreak.

“Nowadays, people’s movement has increased and they are not following proper health safety measures. This puts schools in Bhageshwar Rural Municipality and other local units at high risk,” Bhatta said. “We have requested all schools in Bhageshwor to stay alert and strictly follow health safety protocols.”