KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Health and Population has stated that coming weeks would be challenging in view of the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic that has spread across the country.

Issuing a statement on Monday, the Ministry has urged all to be more cautious and adopt health safety protocol strictly. Ministry’s Joint Spokesperson Dr Samir Adhikari issuing a press release said despite rigorous efforts against the battle of COVID-19 pandemic, the spread and infection rates were still not on the decline. He has urged all not to organize and participate in any kind of public gathering in the name of religious, cultural and political activities.

He said still public mobility had not come under control as it was found to be only 59 percent. It should be completely prohibited as it was only an effective method to control the spread. The Ministry has urged all to join hands to combat the pandemic.

The Ministry has alerted that the infection rate was high in Morang, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kavrepalanchok, Rupandehi, Morang, Kailali, Kakawanpur, Dhanusha, Sunsari, Parsa, Bardiya, Banke and Palpa districts. The Ministry shares that 9,247 new cases of infection were registered from Sunday afternoon to Monday afternoon in the country. Similarly, 5,767 infected persons recovered while 214 died of infection during the same period.