April 14: The infection rate of COVID-19 in Sudurpaschim Province, which was almost nil a few months ago, has started increasing lately. COVID-19 infection has been mostly detected among the India returnees.    
According to the Sudurpaschim Province Health Directorate, the province recorded 288 cases of COVID-19 from March 15 to April 13. New cases have come to fore almost every day in the areas bordering India, said Hemraj Joshi, COVID-19 contact person at the directorate.    
"Since the coronavirus infection is being detected in various cities in India increasingly, its ripple effect is seen in Nepal as well," he said, adding that the infection is rapidly spreading in India and the number of infected people in Nepal has begun increasing here too as there is a daily movement in the border area.    
An increasing number of people have been returning home from India to celebrate Nepali New Year and Bishu Festival lately and the infection rate has started to rise accordingly.    
The directorate has called for highest caution considering the high risk of COVID-19 in the bordering areas.    
Regular COVID-19 tests are being conducted on the suspected and infected people at 'Help Desk' set up at Jhulaghat, Pulghat, Jauljivi, Gaddachauki and Trinanagar check points at the moment, the directorate informed.    
The province has recorded 635 deaths from COVID-19 so far while 62,168 have tested positive to the COVID-19 virus as of now, the directorate said. -- RSS