Dateline Jhapa by Parwat Portel

Photo: Parwat Portel/ photo.circle

DATELINE JHAPA: “My 15-year-old son does not know how he got infected with the coronavirus. When the infection was confirmed, the municipality sent him to a local quarantine facility. He is asymptomatic and will only be sent to a hospital when he starts showing symptoms. As soon as the news of my son’s infection broke, neighbors started mistreating us. They threatened us and said we should leave the village. I and all 11 others in my family have been tested for the virus. Two others in my family were also found positive. This is such a stressful situation.”
Sakuntala Devi Sah, 48

The number of reported coronavirus cases reached 430 in Jhapa, with 100 cases in Mechinagar alone this weekend. The local government imposed a second round of lockdowns in Mechinagar until 19 August. Other towns in Jhapa including Birtamod, Dhulabari and Arjundhara are also under prohibitory orders. There is one isolation centre with 22 beds in Jhapa, which is up to capacity.

Text and Photos:Parwat Portel @photo.kvt7

Edit: Mallika Aryal @mikaness

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