KIRTIPUR: The Kiritpur municipality in Kathmandu has built quarantine facilities with the capacity of accommodating around 500 people when the risk of a coronavirus outbreak heightens.

”The facilities have been built at 10 wards within the municipality,” said deputy mayor and spokeswoman Saraswoti Rimal.

As she said, besides, a 50-bed isolation chamber has been readied at the Tribhuvan University’s science block.

The municipality produced 30 sets of personal protection equipment and handed them to health workers inside the municipality area. Hand sanitizer, soap and water have been distributed to the town people to minimize the infection risk.

”Locals have been urged to stay at home and miking and distribution of pamphlets for the people’s awareness goes on. Market monitoring has been intensified to discourage black-marketeering which is likely at times of crisis,” she said.

The local government has issued a warning that the promotion of the black-market during lockdown against the disease is punishable by law.

The municipality has a food stock sufficient to meet the requirement for around the next three months.

However, it has received public complaints about the shortage of cooking gas of Everest, Nepal and Baba brand names in the local market. The local government has directed newcomers to the town to stay in home quarantine.

Seven health posts, three urban health centers, Kirtipur Hospital and the Bishnudevi Hospital within the municipality area have been instructed to remain open during a lockdown, according to Deputy-mayor Rimal.-