DAMAK, April 25: The city of Damak in Jhapa district is on high alert after the first coronavirus case was confirmed here on Friday evening.

Ward 3 of Damak Municipality, which witnessed its first-ever COVID-19 case yesterday, has been completely sealed. A Bhutanese refugee camp in the ward and another one located to the north of Damak have also been sealed following the confirmation of the infection. Security personnel of Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and municipal police have been deployed for security.

The municipal office has urged one and all to stay home after a 62-year-old man from Damak-6, Dapgachhi, was diagnosed with the deadly disease. “We are currently working on contact tracing. I request all to stay home and apply precautionary measures,” Romnath Oli, the mayor said.

According to public health supervisor for the municipality, Badri Baral, they have asked the provincial government for adequate supply of rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits.

Of the 101 people tested, only the sexagenarian tested positive for the disease via the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. According to him, his son had returned home from the Gulf nation of the United Arab Emirates on March 19. Although his wife and son had reported CVOID-19 antibody during the RDT tests, their PCR reports came negative.