Authorities have enforced an indefinite lockdown in Rajbiraj following a spike in coronavirus cases.

While Rajbiraj, the district headquarters, went under lockdown from Wednesday, the rest of the district will remain under strict prohibitory orders from Thursday, officials said.

“The lockdown had to be imposed because we suspect the virus has spread in communities,” said Rajbiraj Mayor Shambhu Prasad Yadav.

On July 16, an elderly man from Rajbiraj-6, who had returned home from India, died while receiving treatment for heart ailments at the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan, Sunsari. The hospital later confirmed that the deceased also had coronavirus infection.

“On Wednesday, 13 new cases of coronavirus were reported in Rajbiraj. Most of the infected are relatives of the deceased man and others who came in contact with the family members of the deceased,” said Yadav.

Rajbiraj has reported 48 infections until Wednesday afternoon.

Yadav suspects the coronavirus has already spread at the community level.

Duniyalal Yadav, chief at the District Health Office, said the number of infected people in Saptari reached 400 on Wednesday, four months after the first reported infection back in March.

Dr Ranjit Jha, medical superintendent at Gajendra Narayan Singh Hospital, said two hospital employees also tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, a meeting of top officials at the District Administration Office on Wednesday evening decided to issue indefinite prohibitory orders in the district, effective from Thursday.

Chief District OfficerShankar Hari Acharya said in a statement that movement of people, except for emergency reasons, has been banned for an indefinite period.