The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) has stated that the rate of new coronavirus infections is decreasing across the nation.

At a regular press briefing of MoHP on Wednesday, Ministry spokesperson Dr Jageshwar Gautam presented the details of tests conducted in the last month and informed about the declining rate of new infections.

According to the Ministry, 6,828 PCR tests were conducted on June 24 and 629 people were infected — i.e. 9.2 percent infection rate. A month later, on Wednesday, July 22, 3,779 PCT tests were conducted and 100 among them were found infected — i.e. 2,6 percent infection rate.

As per the details submitted by the Ministry regarding the number of tests conducted and infected persons on June 24 and July 22, the positive rate stood at 8 to 10 percent a month ago but now it stands at 2 to 3 percent.

Meanwhile, an indefinite prohibitory order has been issued in Saptari district headquarters Rajbiraj Municipality with effect from 5:00 am on Thursday.

The order comes after five members from the family of an elderly man who died of coronavirus infection in Rajbiraj last Thursday tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday.

Another 13 people, including a healthcare staff, also tested COVID-19 positive in Rajbiraj on Wednesday.

A meeting of the District Security Committee held on Wednesday decided to issue the prohibitory order in accordance with Section-6(3) of the Local Administration Act, 2028 BS and Section-2 of the Infectious Diseases Act, 2020, said Chief District Officer, Shankar Hari Acharya.

Prohibition order has been imposed to close all services except the most essential ones and to prevent unnecessarily travel and movement. Acharya said that strict action would be taken against those violating the order.

Devatal Rural Municipality in Bara district is also under prohibitory order since July 20 until further notice after the number of COVID-19 cases increased at an alarming rate.