The District Administration Office in Banke has decided to impose a three-day prohibitory order from Sunday after an increase in coronavirus cases across the district.

A meeting of the District Crisis Management Centre on Thursday made the decision.

“After a lull, the number of coronavirus cases has begun increasing in the district again,” said Chief District Officer Ram Bahadur Kurumwang. "We have decided to impose a prohibitory order for three days from Sunday to prevent and control further spread of the virus. We are also looking at more effective ways to manage the crisis."

“For three days starting Sunday no one will be allowed to come out of their houses except those in need of medical attention and those involved in providing essential services,” Kurumwang said. "Strict action will be taken against anyone breaking this rule.”

All services except for highly essential ones dealing with health, drinking water, dairy, electricity; ambulances and fire trucks, waste management, fuel, and medicines will remain closed.

On Thursday, 27 individuals in the district including 17 from Nepalgunj Sub Metropolitan City Ward No. 11, Tribhuvan Chowk, nine employees of Inland Revenue Office, Nepalgunj, and one working in Banke District Court tested positive for the virus, said Naresh Shrestha, the focal person of the District Health Office, Banke.

Earlier, the virus infection was detected in two employees of the Inland Revenue Office, said Shrestha.

The swab samples of thirty-six people came back positive for coronavirus in Bheri Hospital, Nepalgunj, on Thursday. Beside 27 from Banke, seven were from Bardiya and two from Dang.