Khotang reopens market after COVID-19 subsides

Ten local level markets in the district, which were closed indefinitely a month ago, have been reopened after the spread of Covid-19 was controlled in the district.

A meeting of the District Covid Crisis Management Center (DCCMC) on Friday decided to reopen all the local level markets in the district which had been closed indefinitely since January 20 after the third wave of Covid-19 started. Acting Chief District Officer Bikal Shrestha said that the decision has been taken to keep the market safe and to ensure that no more than 25 people are present in one place.

Diktel, Baksila, Aiselukharka, Arkhaule, Buipa, Mattim, Panchami, Khotang Bazaar, Chisapani and other places of the district have weekly markets. When the market is closed, local farmers who make a living by selling local products including agricultural products are affected.

The district has reportedly been neglecting to follow the minimum health standards to prevent infections. Earlier, a meeting of the District Covid Crisis Management Center (DCCMC) held on Februar 10 had decided to open the Halesi temple after 24 days. A meeting chaired by DCCMC Coordinator and Chief District Officer Phanindra Dahal has decided to open Halesi temple, monasteries, mosques, churches and schools in the district from last Sunday.

Samar Bhujel, executive director of the Halesi Development Committee, said that arrangements have been made to allow a maximum of 15 visitors to enter the temple at a time. Fifteen people have lost their lives due to the coronavirus and 43 are actively infected in the district. All of them are in home isolation, said Punya Prasad Sigdel, head of the District Health Office, Khotang. The district, which has two municipalities and eight villages, has reported 3,474 cases of coronavirus infection since last April.

Only half of the people in the district have been vaccinated so far. Out of the total population of the district, 116,689 were vaccinated with the first dose and 67,029 of them received second dose too, according to the District Health Office.