Health institutions in Kanchanpur have been seeing a steady decline in coronavirus caseloads in the last two weeks with health officials reporting a drop in infection rate.

According to Siddharaj Bhatta, public health inspector of the District Health Office in Kanchanpur, Covid-19 infection rate is at five percent in the district at present.

“The rate of recovery has increased this month,” he said. “Antigen tests conducted in various local units of the district also showed very few positive cases.”

On Monday, out of 38 swabs collected in the PCR laboratory of Mahakali Hospital in Mahendranagar, eight individuals tested positive for Covid-19.

In Kanchanpur, only four Covid-19 cases were identified through 205 antigen tests on Monday. On the same day, one individual of Kanchanpur tested positive for Covid-19 in Seti Provincial Hospital, Dhangadhi.

According to the data of the District Health Office in Kanchanpur, only 13 individuals tested positive for Covid-19 in the district on Monday.

On Sunday, 13 individuals had tested positive for Covid-19 in Kanchanpur while the number of recovered patients stood at 57.

Currently, there are 390 active Covid-19 cases in Kanchanpur, according to the data of the District Health Office. Until mid-May, there were over 1,000 active cases of Covid-19 in the district with hardly any Covid-19 beds available at Mahakali Hospital. But now, there are only 11 Covid-19 patients receiving treatment at the hospital.

According to the hospital administration, the hospital has six ICU beds, 16 HDU and 50 isolation beds. Out of the total 72 beds, 59 beds are vacant now.

“Until four weeks ago, the hospital was packed with Covid-19 patients. But the rate of Covid-19 infection has been gradually decreasing. The hospital has been receiving one or two new Covid-19 cases these days,” said Dr Arjun Bhatta of Mahakali Hospital.

Health workers say the prohibitory orders put in place on April 29 by the District Administration Office in Kanchanpur have been effective in curbing the spread of the virus but advise caution while easing restrictions. Kanchanpur is under prohibitory order until June 21.

“Although the rate of infection has decreased, the risk is still high. It is not advisable to lift the prohibitory orders immediately,” said Dr Bhatta. “The district administration must consider the risk before deciding to ease restrictions gradually.”

Since around 100 to 150 migrant workers are still crossing into the country from the Sudurpaschim-based Gadda Chauki border point on a daily basis, the health office suggests continuing antigen tests of new entries at the border point.

“It is necessary to continue screening at the border point,” said public health inspector Bhatta. “All health safety measures must be given continuity. A decrease in caseload does not mean we should get complacent.”

The data of the District Police Office in Kanchanpur showed around 1,000 people crossed Gadda Chauki border point in April and May on a daily basis.

As per the data of the District Health Office, 183 people have died of Covid-19 in the district. Among them, 16 individuals died during the first wave of Covid-19.