KATHMANDU: Dr Jageshwar Gautam, Spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population has hinted that the government would not impose lockdown any further as long as the hospitals and health facilities will continue to treat the coronavirus patients.

He, however, added that the number of active infections has surpassed the number of recovered ones in the past few weeks.

People without symptoms of coronavirus are currently living in home isolation. Only patients having symptoms are hospitalized.

“The government is aware of the situation if the number of coronavirus patients increases significantly as there will be no beds in the hospitals for their treatment,” he said, adding that the ministry was looking for alternatives.

Earlier, on September 23, Gautam had said that the ministry would recommend the government to impose lockdown if the number of active cases exceeded 25,000.

On that day, the number of active infected people had reached 18,000. He said that it would be difficult to support the health infrastructure if the number of infected people reaches 25,000.

On Wednesday alone, as many as 1,569 people were infected across the country. At the same time, the number of active infected has reached 20,891. Experts say the number of infected people will continue to rise.

He said, “The number of active infections has reached 20,000 now as the number of additions is more than the number of discharges.”