The government has decided to seal Syangja district for 10 days after 21 security personnel tested positive for coronavirus infection.

In a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus in community level, all the services except essential ones have been completely stopped in the Syangja district.

The Chief District Officer of Syangja, Ganga Bahadur Chhetri, said, “After 21 police officials including the police chief tested positive for coronavirus, the COVID-19 Crisis Management Center (CCMC) decided to seal off the district,”

“As per the travel history of all 21 police officials, Putali Bazaar is in high risk of the coronavirus contamination. Thus, in order to prevent community transfer of the virus, all the services except essential services have been halted,” said Chhetri.

Meanwhile, Chief of District Health Office, Yam Prasad Sharma, said that the PCR testing of those who had come in direct contact with the coronavirus infected police personnel would be done in urgent basis.

In the first phase, elderly people and those suffering from chronic disease who had come in contact with the infected people would be tested, said Sharma.

The decision is made after three persons without travel history had tested positive for COVID-19 on July 18, while, as many as 21 police officials including the police chief were found with the virus infection on July 27.